Gauri Lankesh murder case: Lankesh murder accused are taking magistrates to court
Bengaluru: The legal team defending the main accused in the Gauri Lankesh murder case seem to be preparing for a long, protracted battle. They have filed a petition against four magistrates of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) courts who presided over the proceedings of the cases and alleged lapses on their part in following the Supreme Court guidelines. They have been accused of dereliction of duty and acting with a strong bias against their clients, mainly Amol Kale, Suchith Kumar, Amit Degwekar and Manohar Edave – who are among the main suspects arrested in connection with plotting and executing Gauri Lankesh’s murder. These men are also implicated for the foiled murder attempt on KS Bhagwan, a Kannada writer. The high court is expected to take up the matter for hearing on Monday.
This petition comes after the one filed in the high court alleging police torture.
“As per the apex court guidelines, if the accused say before the court that he was ill-treated and assaulted by the police after his arrest, then there are specific procedures that need to be followed to ensure basic justice. We had earlier written to the registrar general of the high court demanding departmental action against these magistrates,” said NP Amruthesh, HC lawyer representing the petitioners.
The four magistrates mentioned by name in the petition are – Somasekhara, presiding officer of Vth ACMM court, V Prakash, presiding officer of III ACMM court, Jagadessh, presiding officer of Ist ACMM court and Mala, presiding officer of 44th ACMM court. The petitioners have claimed that as per law, the magistrates should have referred their clients to the district medical officer for physical examination and medical treatment since they had alleged physical torture before them in open court. However, Amruthesh has alleged that these magistrates did not record it in the order in violation of their official responsibility. The writ petition was filed on June 22.
“The writ petitions have been filed and it is under the scrutiny of the High Court at the moment,” said Virendra Ichalkaranjikar, President, Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad, which is representing the accused.
Apart from the four magistrates, the registrar general of the high court, state government, state and national human rights commissions have also been made respondents in the petition. Sources connected with the case pointed out that the petition could adversely affect the judicial officers as its final outcome might have a direct bearing on their promotion and career records apart from prolonging the
judicial process in the murder case.
Amol Kale, one of the main accused in the Gauri Lankesh murder case who is being projected as the mastermind, told the court last month that he was physically assaulted by the SIT members. Similar allegations have also been made against the Cottonpet police where the KS Bhagwan case was being investigated. Sources also pointed out that more writ petitions are expected in the coming days against the SIT and the concerned officials as Suresh Kumal L (36), another key accused in the Gauri case, had alleged before the court last week that he was also slapped and assaulted by the SIT officials.
courtesy : bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com
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Woman found hanging at Bengaluru home dies, husband held
Bengaluru (PTI): A 24-year-old married woman who had been found hanging from a ceiling fan at her home has died, and her husband has been arrested in this connection, police said on Monday.
The deceased Shruthi was a resident of Yelahanka here, and her maternal family claimed it to be a murder. Her husband, Pawan Kalyan, has been arrested on charges of dowry harassment, police added.
According to police, on Saturday, she was found hanging from a ceiling fan, with police suspecting it to be a case of suicide.
She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was declared brought dead, police said.
Shruthi married Kalyan, a private employee, in December 2024, and the couple has been residing in Yelahanka since then, a senior police officer said.
However, her family has alleged that Kalyan and his family had been harassing Shruthi for additional dowry, which often led to quarrels between them, he said.
The officer said the two families had recently resolved their disputes, but the issue cropped up again.
Amruth, Shruthi's younger brother, told reporters that he was informed over the phone that his sister had died by suicide.
"They told me on the phone that my sister died by suicide, and I immediately informed my father. The couple had argued earlier that day before I was told she had died. When I checked, the ceiling fan did not appear to have bent or moved. My sister weighed 75 kg," he said.
A case was registered against Kalyan at the Yelahanka New Town police station for dowry harassment, and he was arrested in connection with the incident, the officer added.
The autopsy report will ascertain the exact cause of death, police said.
