CID to probe Halappa case

DGP says no pressure on investigations

“A team of officials was constituted after the Director General and Inspector General of Police Ajai Kumar Singh handed over the case to the CID for an investigation. Our officers started conducting spot ‘mahajars’ around 3 pm in Shimoga,” CID Director General of Police K S R Charan Reddy told reporters here on Tuesday.

The question of the police arresting Halappa will not arise at this stage. The officials have to complete the preliminary investigation and take into consideration prima facie allegations and evidences before acting further. Moreover, there is a delay of five months in the case, he said and clarified, “for the police, Halappa is not absconding.”

The police would summon Halappa as and when required, either in Bangalore or Shimoga. The investigation would be completed within 90 days and by then it would be clear whether the allegations were true or not. The police were optimistic about Halappa being co-operative to the investigating team. There was no pressure from any political side. The investigating team will not bow to any pressure and will complete the investigation within the legal framework, he added.

The officials will record statements of Chandravati, her husband Venkatesh Murthy, Halappa, Girish, Basavaraj and others. Statements of witnesses will also be recorded. The couple never sought police protection ever since the alleged incident took place. The police will provide protection to their family if they sought it, he stated.

Interestingly, the couple have filed only a written complaint and have not enclosed any CD containing audio/video footage or a sheet of paper containing cellphone call records. The couple had released these materials to the media.

“The investigation team will definitely demand the complainant to provide them. The police will take details from service providers if the complainant fails to do so,” Reddy said. The police may subject the victim and the suspect for medical examination and clothes claimed to be preserved would be sent for forensic examination.

‘Probe CM’

The Youth Congress, on Tuesday, appealed to the Governor to take necessary measures to subject both Chief Minister Yeddyurappa and BJP State president K S Eshwarappa in the inquiry into the rape charges levelled against former minister Halappa.  Leaders of the Youth Congress submitted a memorandum to Governor H R Bhardwaj in Bangalore on Tuesday.

Halappa goes into hiding

Former minister Halappa remained incommunicado for the second day since Monday. His cell phone remained ‘not reachable’ on Tuesday. None of his family members were available at his residence in Basaveshwara Nagar in Bangalore.

Halappa went into hiding after he met Chief Minister Yeddyurappa at HAL airport on Monday morning. His residence wore a deserted look with only a few policemen deployed outside for security. There are rumours he is staying in a resort near Mysore. However there was no confirmation of this rumour.