Why has K'taka MLA Basavaraj been remanded to judicial custody until Feb 26 in a murder case?
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Bengaluru, Feb 21 (NationPress) A court in Karnataka has ordered the remand of BJP MLA Byrathi Basavaraj, who represents Bengaluru’s KR Puram constituency, to judicial custody until February 26 in connection with a murder case.
Basavaraj was taken into custody over the murder of a man and underwent questioning by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
This directive was issued by the 42nd Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Court, and he is scheduled to be moved to Bengaluru Central Prison, situated on the city's outskirts.
Basavaraj is implicated in the murder case involving rowdy-sheeter Shivaprakash alias Biklu Shiva, having been apprehended upon landing at Kempegowda International Airport following the rejection of his anticipatory bail plea by the Karnataka High Court.
The Supreme Court has also declined to provide him with any relief.
The BJP has raised allegations of foul play, suggesting that the Karnataka government is politically targeting him.
BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra visited Basavaraj’s home, asserting that he played a pivotal role in the BJP’s rise to power in Karnataka by leaving the Congress party.
He informed supporters that his family had previously faced false allegations and claimed that Basavaraj is being falsely accused in this case.
The murder of Biklu Shiva took place on July 15 last year in the Halasuru area of Bengaluru.
Authorities have reportedly gathered significant evidence against the MLA. According to CID sources, custodial interrogation of Basavaraj is crucial to advance the investigation and to reveal the broader conspiracy surrounding the murder.
Basavaraj has been charged with murder and is identified as the fifth accused in the killing of Biklu Shiva, who was brutally murdered outside his home.
The Bharatinagar police in Bengaluru initiated an FIR against the BJP MLA based on a complaint lodged by the victim’s mother.
The case took an unexpected turn when the deceased’s mother stated that she had never named the BJP MLA in her complaint and was unaware of how his name came to be included in the FIR.
Nonetheless, police maintained that they subsequently established Basavaraj’s connections to the primary accused in the case.
Basavaraj had direct ties with rowdy Jagadeesh alias Jagga, the main suspect, and had met Biklu Shiva multiple times prior to the fatal incident.