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.
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.
Will Prajwal Revanna return to Bengaluru tonight?
Speculation arises after Munich-Bengaluru ticket surfaces
Bengaluru: Amidst mounting anticipation, Janata Dal Secular MP Prajwal Revanna, entangled in the Karnataka sex tapes controversy, might be making his way back to Bengaluru. NDTV has obtained a Munich-Bengaluru ticket for a Lufthansa Airlines flight, scheduled to land at 12:30 am tomorrow, bearing Revanna's name as a business class passenger.
The ticket, reportedly booked concurrently with Revanna's departure to Germany, predates the filing of an FIR against the 33-year-old MP. Reacting to the allegations, Revanna had communicated through social media on May 1 and had said, "As I am not in Bangalore to attend the enquiry, I have communicated to C.I.D Bangalore through my Advocate. Truth will prevail soon."
Nevertheless, several instances of tickets purportedly booked in Revanna's name have surfaced in recent weeks, all turning out to be false alarms. In response, the Karnataka police's Special Investigation Team (SIT), overseeing the high-profile case, has advised airport authorities to remain vigilant. A lookout notice and a Blue Corner notice have been issued to locate Revanna.
The scandal erupted when numerous explicit videos, allegedly featuring Prajwal Revanna, emerged last month, just ahead of the elections. Consequently, an SIT was formed to probe the case, resulting in Revanna's suspension from the JDS party. He faces a slew of charges, including rape, sexual harassment, voyeurism, and criminal intimidation.
His father, JDS legislator HD Revanna, was arrested in connection with one of these cases but is currently out on bail. HD Revanna faces a kidnapping charge, triggered by allegations of his involvement in the abduction of a woman who had been employed as a house help at their residence. Allegations of a leaked video purportedly showing Prajwal Revanna engaging in sexual abuse have further complicated matters.
The sex tapes scandal has escalated into a big political issue, with the JDS claiming conspiracy and the Congress seizing the opportunity to target the BJP, which has formed an alliance with the JDS for the Lok Sabha elections. JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy insinuated that powerful forces were behind the leak, hinting at Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
In response, Shivakumar asserted his non-involvement, stating, "I am neither director nor producer. I am only an exhibitor, theater exhibitor." On Kumaraswamy's allegations that HD Revanna was arrested to defame Deve Gowda, Shivakumar had said, "Not at all. See, I too feel sorry for him (Revanna). I, too, feel that such things should not happen. It's such a big family. Let them think whatever they want but I don't wish anything bad for anyone and I don't need it."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has weighed in, advocating zero tolerance for individuals like Prajwal Revanna and blaming the Congress-led Karnataka government for permitting the JDS MP to leave the country.
