CID seeks withdrawal of interim protection from arrest granted to MLA Byrathi Basavaraj
Bengaluru: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has urged the Karnataka High Court to revoke the interim protection from arrest granted to KR Puram MLA Byrathi Basavaraj (B.A. Basavaraj) in connection with the murder of rowdy-sheeter Shivaprakash alias Biklu Shiva.
The CID argued that there is a strong need to arrest and interrogate the legislator, who has been named as Accused No. 5 in the case registered at Bharathi Nagar Police Station.
During the hearing of the CID’s interim petition on Thursday, Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav presided over the proceedings. The CID requested the court to lift the interim stay that prevents Basavaraj’s arrest, which had been granted earlier while considering his plea to quash the FIR filed against him.
Additional State Public Prosecutor B.N. Jagadish, representing the CID, told the court that Basavaraj had provided false information during the investigation and that significant evidence has been collected linking him to the case. “We have gathered crucial material. His custodial interrogation is necessary. If the court later finds the evidence unsatisfactory, it may quash the case, but at this stage, his arrest is vital for investigation,” the prosecutor argued.
Defending Basavaraj, his counsel said the CID has invoked the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act (KCOCA) in the case — a law applicable only to organised criminal activities. Under KCOCA, anticipatory bail is not permitted, the lawyer said. “If the interim protection is withdrawn, the MLA will lose the opportunity to seek anticipatory bail. The investigation is being carried out with political motives, and we are considering seeking a probe by an independent agency,” he submitted, urging the court to retain the interim order.
The bench orally observed that investigating agencies must be given the freedom to conduct independent probes. However, the court adjourned the matter to October 23 and extended the interim protection from arrest until then.
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.
Rupee falls 9 paise to all-time low of 90.58 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): Rupee depreciated 9 paise to an all-time low of 90.58 against US dollar in early trade on Monday, weighed down by uncertainty over an India-US trade deal and persistent foreign fund outflows.
Forex traders said rupee is trading with a negative bias as investors are in wait and watch mode and awaiting cues from the India-US trade deal front.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.53 against the US dollar, then fell further to an all-time intraday low of 90.58 against the greenback, registering a fall of 9 paise over its previous close.
On Friday, the rupee had slipped 17 paise to close at an all-time low of 90.49 against the American currency.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.05 per cent lower at 98.35.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 0.52 per cent at USD 61.44 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share benchmark index Sensex was trading 298.86 points lower at 84,968.80, while the Nifty was down 121.40 points at 25,925.55.
Foreign Institutional Investors sold equities worth Rs 1,114.22 crore on Friday, according to exchange data.
"FPIs continue to be in selling mode in equity and debt while RBI has been selling dollars to fund their long positions," said Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP.
