Why is K'taka MLA Byrathi Basavaraj in Trouble Over Rowdy-Sheeter Murder Case?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Byrathi Basavaraj is named as the fifth accused in a murder case.
- Initial investigations reveal connections between the MLA and the main accused.
- The victim's mother disputes the inclusion of Basavaraj's name in the FIR.
- Political tensions escalate as accusations of vendetta arise.
- Public demand for accountability in the investigation process is crucial.
Bengaluru, July 18 (NationPress) The Karnataka Police have issued a notice to Bengaluru MLA Byrathi Basavaraj on Friday, instructing him to appear before the investigating officer regarding the rowdy-sheeter murder case.
Basavaraj, a prominent MLA representing the K.R. Puram Assembly constituency in Bengaluru, is identified as the fifth accused in the FIR. Police sources indicate he has been asked to report to authorities within 48 hours.
The initial investigation has uncovered a connection between MLA Byrathi Basavaraj and the primary accused in the murder case, Jagadish. Authorities have found evidence showing that the main suspect was frequently in contact with the MLA.
The situation escalated on Thursday when the mother of the deceased asserted that she never mentioned MLA Byrathi Basavaraj to the police and questioned how his name ended up in the FIR.
In response, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara commented on Friday that the complainant had insisted on implicating the BJP MLA in the murder case, stating, "The complainant pressured the police to include his name. Now, she claims she never mentioned the BJP MLA's name to the police."
The police have formally notified the BJP MLA, requiring his cooperation in the investigation. When pressed about the rumors concerning police involvement in the murder, Parameshwara stated that no confirmations could be made at this stage and that all facts would emerge during the investigation.
Criticizing the ruling government, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, R. Ashoka, remarked, "The Congress government is attempting to suppress opposition MLAs. In the rowdy-sheeter Biklu Shiva murder case, his mother Vijayalakshmi has stated, 'I did not file a complaint against Byrathi Basavaraj; the police themselves implicated him.' This demonstrates the lengths to which the Congress government has resorted to political vendetta in this case," Ashoka asserted.
Congress party leaders, who continually accuse the Central government of misusing agencies like CBI, IT, and ED against opposition leaders, must now justify the registration of an FIR against an MLA when his name is absent from the complaint, Ashoka questioned.
"The Congress government must abandon the notion that it can intimidate BJP MLAs by fabricating false cases against them. The BJP does not shield any criminals. If allegations exist, let the investigation proceed legally and be proven in court. However, if the government pursues such vendetta politics against opposition MLAs, we will be compelled to initiate a vigorous protest against it—this is a warning," Ashoka stated.
Byrathi Basavaraj was previously a close ally of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah before his shift to the BJP. His younger brother, Byrathi Suresh, currently serves as a close aide to CM Siddaramaiah and holds the position of Minister for Urban Development and Town Planning.
Basavaraj faces murder charges and is the fifth accused in the case concerning the killing of Shivaprakash alias Biklu Shiva, who was brutally murdered outside his home. The Bharatinagar police in Bengaluru have filed an FIR against the MLA, naming him as the fifth accused. The complaint was lodged by the victim's mother, Vijayalaxmi, according to police reports.