Two additional individuals have been apprehended in connection with the murder of a former rowdy-sheeter turned realtor, a case in which BJP MLA Byrathi Basavaraj has also been named, police confirmed on Monday, reported news agency PTI.
Meanwhile, these recent arrests bring the total number of people taken into custody in the case to seven.
The suspects have been identified by the police as Arun alias Temu and Naveen, both local residents who are alleged to have played a crucial role in the murder. “The accused duo have been arrested and presented before the court, following which we have secured 14 days of police custody,” a senior police officer stated.
According to PTI, another suspect, R. D. Anil, has been detained for questioning. He is purportedly involved in providing the vehicle used during the commission of the crime, police added.
The K. R. Puram MLA was interrogated for over three hours on July 19 regarding his alleged involvement in the murder.
Police report that Shivaprakash alias Biklu Shivu (40) was fatally attacked in Bharathi Nagar on the evening of July 15. Five other individuals – Jagadish, Kiran, Vimal, Anil, and Fredrick – had already been arrested in connection with the case.
Basavaraj cooperated with the investigation following a Karnataka High Court directive issued on Friday, which mandated his appearance for questioning on 19 July. The police had also issued a corresponding notice. He has since been summoned again for further questioning on July 23, PTI reported.
Furthermore, Basavaraj, who is named as one of the accused in the First Information Report (FIR), has sought to quash the FIR through legal channels, claiming it was filed without merit.
Vijayalakshmi, the mother of the deceased, stated that she did not name Basavaraj in her initial complaint. However, she alleged that “the police added his name independently,” thereby raising questions about the FIR`s validity.
The prosecution, represented by Special Public Prosecutor B. A. Belliyappa, argued that Basavaraj may have “influenced the complainant within 24 hours of the murder, possibly to use subsequent court orders for protection.”
The High Court has granted Basavaraj temporary relief, restraining the police from arresting him until July 21.
(With inputs from PTI)