Police escort the arrested suspects to court.
Credit: DH photo
Bengaluru: Five people have been arrested in connection with the recent murder of a rowdy-sheeter in east Bengaluru, in which BJP MLA Byrathi Basavaraj was named as a suspect.
"The five suspects have been placed under arrest,” said Ramesh Banoth, Joint Commissioner of Police (East). “They were produced before a court and sent to 10 days' police custody for further investigation.”
The five suspects, who, as per sources, surrendered before the investigators claiming responsibility for the murder, are Kiran, Pradeep, Vimal, Madan and Samuel.
"They have confessed to past rivalry and property disputes as the motive. We are verifying these claims,” a police source said.
Kiran, 25, is reportedly related to Jagadish, who has been named Accused No 1 in the FIR, and is absconding. Some reports suggested he has moved court for anticipatory bail, but this has not been confirmed.
Shivakumar (40) alias Biklu Shiva was murdered near his residence on Meanee Avenue Road in Bharathinagar on Tuesday night.
In the FIR, Shivakumar’s mother stated that he was a real estate agent and had registered a General Power of Attorney (GPA) in 2023. She alleged that in February, Jagadish, Kiran, and others trespassed on the property and threatened him.
She further claimed Shivakumar had earlier petitioned the police, stating the attackers were backed by the BJP MLA.
However, on Thursday, she retracted, saying, "The police themselves added the names. My son first gave a complaint naming the BJP MLA. Maybe they (the police) added it from that."
Police officials said that the MLA, late Thursday evening, was served a notice to appear before the investigating officer.
The case, registered at the Bharathi Nagar police station, is being probed by Prakash Rathod, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), KG Halli sub-division.