Khader wants BSY to apologise for 'communalising' Karthikraj murder

Police have arrested the victim's sister, 2 others for the killing

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader has slammed the BJP state president, B S Yeddyurappa, for targeting Muslims over the killing of 28-year-old Karthikraj and asked him to apologise for calling the murder politically motivated.

Speaking to journalists here on Sunday, Khader congratulated the City Crime Branch (CCB) ACP, Valentine D’Souza, and his team for cracking the case. But he demanded action against the police officer who had “delayed” the investigation and said he would ask the Mangaluru police commissioner to conduct an enquiry into the matter. The police lapses will also be brought to the notice of Home Minister G Parameshwara, he said.

Karthikraj, son of Umesh Ganiga, a former president of Mangaluru taluk panchayat, was found murdered near Konaje police station on October 22, 2016. The Mangaluru police have arrested three people, including Karthikraj’s sister, Kavyashree, for the murder. Sibling rivalry is said to be the prime motive for the murder.

Khader accused Yeddyurappa of giving a “communal colour” to the murder. The former chief minister had visited the house of Karthikraj and alleged that the murder was a “conspiracy by a Muslim fundamentalist organisation from Kerala” to disturb peace in the coastal district. Khader demanded that Yeddyurappa apologise to people for terming the murder politically motivated.

“Three murder cases in my constituency (Ullal) in the recent past have been solved. I have not interfered in the investigation,” he said.

The minister congratulated the district police for solving the murder of Jaleel Karopady. The investigation has sent a strong message that truth will prevail and that culprits will be brought to book.

Mangaluru Chalo
When asked about the ‘Mangaluru Chalo’ campaign undertaken by the United Muslim Front under K Ashraf demanding justice for Ahmed Qureshi, who is a suspect in an attempt to murder case, Khader said: “We do not support criminals. The CID is investigating into the alleged police atrocity on Qureshi.

Action will be taken once the CID report comes. Was it necessary for him to take out ‘Mangaluru Chalo’ when the case is being investigated by the CID? Many organisations which earlier supported ‘Mangaluru Chalo’ have backtracked after realising that the organisers were seeking personal benefit. If they are confident of Qureshi’s innocence, they could have filed a private complaint against police.”
DH News Service