The Karnataka High Court on Friday directed BJP MLA Byrathi Basavaraj to appear before the investigating authorities for questioning on July 19 at 11:30 a.m. in connection with the murder of a rowdy-sheeter, even as it granted him interim relief from arrest.
Basavaraj has been named as the fifth accused in the murder of Shivaprakash alias Biklu Shivu, who was hacked to death in Bharathi Nagar on Tuesday night. The High Court ordered that the police inquiry must strictly follow the provisions of Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS), which governs the process of investigation.
Seeking to quash the FIR, Basavaraj filed a petition alleging that the case against him was baseless and politically motivated. His counsel, senior advocate Sandesh J Chouta, argued that the police had issued a notice without valid grounds.
Controversy arose after Vijayalakshmi, the mother of the deceased, claimed she had not named the MLA in her original complaint. She alleged that the police had unilaterally included Basavaraj’s name in the FIR, raising serious concerns about its procedural fairness.
However, Special Public Prosecutor B A Belliyappa contested the claim, suggesting that Basavaraj may have exerted influence on the complainant within 24 hours of the crime in an attempt to preempt arrest and obtain court protection.
Taking note of the developments, the court restrained the police from arresting Basavaraj until Monday, providing him temporary relief while ensuring that due process is followed during the investigation.
