RTI activist Vinayaka Baliga murder case: Review petition seeking narco-analysis of Naresh Shenoy
Mangaluru, October 30: As the Supreme Court has denied permission for conducting narco-analysis on Naresh Shenoy, the main accused in RTI activist Vinayaka Baliga murder case, Advocate Ravindra Kamath who is arguing in favour of Baliga family in the Supreme Court, said that he would file a review petition before the court to reconsider the narco-analysis application to know the truth in the case.
“The Supreme Court has taken the application filed by the Baliga family seeking narco-analysis of Naresh Shenoy, the main accused in the case as per the FIR in the Baliga case, for hearing. In 2010, the Supreme Court Full Bench had given a verdict Selvi versus Karnataka State case that conducting narco-analysis test much against to the wish of the accused would be the violation of human rights. In view of that verdict, the Supreme Court Bench has denied permission to conduct narco-analysis test on Naresh Shenoy. But in such cases, how could the truth be uncovered if every accused declined to undergo narco-analysis test? So, he would file a review petition before the SC”, Kamath told Varthabharati.
Why do they fear for narco-analysis test?
“Why the people are hesitating to undergo narco-analysis test if they have not done anything wrong in Vinayaka Baliga murder case? After one stage of investigation, the case is almost in the state of suspension. So, the investigation should be completed. In view of this, they have decided to file a review petition. The Supreme Court has not given permission for narco-analysis test keeping the Selvi versus Karnataka case. But in the Sheena Bora case, the SC had given permission for narco-analysis test. The complete investigation into the Vinayaka Baliga murder case was not done. They have filed an application seeking reinvestigation into the case. But the SC asked why? The SC should be apprised of the need to conduct reinvestigation, Narendra Nayak, who is fighting legally in this case said.
Vinayaka Baliga murder case
Social activist and RTI activist Vinayaka Panduranga Baliga was hacked to death near his house on March 21, 2016. Vinayaka Baliga raised the issue of misappropriation of funds in the Sri Venkataramana Temple, coming under the Kashi Mutt in the city. He had moved the court regarding the issue. After a few days later, he was murdered. Then Mangaluru City Police Commissioner-led police investigating team conducted the investigation into the murder case and identified Namo Brigade leader Naresh Shenoy as the main accused in the case and filed an FIR. But at that time, Naresh who was the active volunteer of Kashi Mutt and Sri Venkataramana Temple was absconding. Later, the police arrested him. But he was granted conditional bail.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Israel's top general resigns citing security failures during Oct 7 attack
Jerusalem, Jan 21 (AP): Israel's top general resigned on Tuesday, citing the security and intelligence failures related to Hamas' surprise attack that triggered the war in the Gaza Strip.
Israel meanwhile launched a large operation in the occupied West Bank, killing at least six people, according to Palestinian officials.
Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi is the most senior Israeli figure to resign over the security breakdown on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led members carried out a land, sea and air assault into southern Israel, rampaging through army bases and nearby communities for hours.
The attack killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the group abducted another 250. More than 90 captives are still being held in Gaza, around a third of whom are believed to be dead.
Halevi's resignation came just says into a fragile ceasefire with Hamas that could lead to an end to the war and the return of the remaining captives.
Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, head of Israel's Southern Command, which oversees operations in Gaza, also tendered his resignation.
The resignation of the two senior generals will likely add to calls for a public inquiry into the October 7 failures, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — whose leadership could be implicated — has said must wait until the war is over.
Halevi had also appeared to be at odds with Israel's new defence minister, Israel Katz, over the direction of the war, with Halevi saying Israel had accomplished most of its goals and Katz echoing Netanyahu's vow to keep fighting until “total victory” over Hamas.
In his letter of resignation, Halevi said the military, under his command, had “failed in its mission to defend the State of Israel" when Hamas attacked but had made “significant achievements” in the ensuing war, which rippled across the Middle East.
Halevi, who began what was meant to be a three-year term in January 2023 said his resignation would go into effect March 6.
