Govt not disclosing truth about Rao's murder, alleges HDK

Attacking the government for not "revealing" the truth behind BJP worker Deepak Rao's murder, JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy said that both the BJP and Congress were trying to gain political mileage over the political murders in the coastal region.

Speaking to reporters here, Kumaraswamy said though police had apprehended four people said to be connected to the murder, it has not disclosed their names. "How many days does the Home Minister require to extract information from the four people apprehended? Why isn't the government divulging the truth? Based on the information I have received, I had hinted the involvement of a BJP corporator in the murder. The said corporator even wept before the media claiming innocence, despite me not revealing his name," he said.

Defamation suit

Mangaluru North BJP president Y Bharath Shetty has filed a defamation suit for Rs 1 crore against JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy for blaming BJP for the murder of party worker Deepak Rao.

"Being in a responsible position, Kumaraswamy has issued an immature statement. Mangaluru North MLA Mohiuddin Bava has also alleged that BJP is involved in the murder. Kumaraswamy has intentionally given the statement to mislead the probe," he said.