SC issues notice to K'taka govt for dropping charges of KCOCA against Gauri Lankesh murder accused
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Karnataka government for quashing charges under the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA) against one of the accused in the murder case of journalist Gauri Lankesh.
The Apex Court was hearing an appeal filed by filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh challenging the move to remove the KCOCA charges against the accused number 6 in the case Mohan Nayak.
In the plea, Kavitha had stated that Mohan Nayak in the last few months had moved to Karnataka HC for bail after charges against him under KCOCA were mysteriously dropped by the police
The bail hearing is completed and is pending in the High Court, the plea said.
A Bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari, and Aniruddha Bose issued a notice in the matter to the Karnataka government and posted the case for further hearing on July 15.
Senior counsel Huzefa Ahmadi assisted by advocate Aparna Bhat represented the petitioner.
The Bench while issuing notice in the matter observed that the accused cannot be granted bail till the plea is heard and disposed of by the Supreme Court.
The order in challenge before the top court was delivered on April 22, 2021, by which the Karnataka High Court had quashed the order of Bengaluru Commissioner of Police passed in 2018 and the supplementary charge sheet filed thereafter.
Offences under Sections 3(1)(i), 3(2), 3(3) and 3(4) of the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act, 2000 (“KCOCA”) against Mohan Nayak were, thereby, dropped.
The appeal before the Supreme Court alleged that Nayak was actively involved in providing shelter to the killers prior to and after committing the offence.
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Rajnath Singh arrives at Karwar naval base
Karwar (PTI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday arrived at the strategically located Karwar naval base in Karnataka, where he will soon flag off Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR.
The Union minister arrived at the naval base around 1 pm where he was given a Guard of Honour at the Parade Ground.
The defence minister landed at the key base in a military chopper, and is scheduled to spend a few hours here, with a number of engagements lined up.
During his visit to the base in the afternoon, he will also inaugurate some newly developed infrastructure at the key naval site, officials earlier said.
The Navy is expanding the crucial naval base as part Project 'Seabird'.
"Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh will flag off #INSSunayna as the Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR with 44 personnel from 9 navies embarked onboard, from #Karwar today," the Office of Raksha Mantri posted on X on Saturday.
