The Karnataka CID has moved the High Court seeking to lift BJP MLA Byrathi Basavaraju’s interim protection from arrest in a murder case.
The Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has petitioned the High Court seeking removal of the interim protection from arrest granted to BJP MLA Byrathi Basavaraju in connection with the murder of rowdy sheeter Shivaprakash alias Biklu Shiva. Basavaraju, a former minister representing K.R. Puram in Bengaluru, is the elder brother of Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh. Special Public Prosecutor B.N. Jagadeesha submitted that the CID has collected crucial evidence, alleging that Basavaraju misled investigators and that all other accused have already been arrested under the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act (KCOCA).
Basavaraju’s counsel Sandeep Chowta countered that the case is politically motivated, asserting that his client has fully cooperated with the investigation and has not been summoned for questioning in the last month. The bench headed by Justice M.I. Arun directed the CID to specify how long it seeks to take Basavaraju into custody and adjourned the case to October 8.
The FIR, based on a complaint filed by the victim’s mother Vijayalaxmi, names Basavaraju as the fifth accused along with four others. Vijayalaxmi later claimed she had not named the MLA, alleging police pressure and requesting protection for her family. However, police said the complaint indeed mentioned Basavaraju and had been read back to her before she signed it.
Basavaraju has denied any involvement in the murder, calling it a deliberate attempt to implicate him. Police continue to investigate additional suspects and have stated more names could be added to the FIR as the probe progresses.
