Bengaluru: Cops nab man who stabbed victim ‘20 times’ in murder case linked to BJP MLA

Bengaluru: Police have arrested a rowdy believed to be a key suspect in the murder case linked to BJP MLA Byrathi Basavaraj, a senior officer said. Bharathinagar police arrested Kiran alias ‘Deadly’ Kiran’ for the murder of Shivakumar alias Biklu Shiva. 

Shivakumar, 40, was fatally attacked with sharp weapons near his home in Meanee Avenue Road in Bharathinagar on July 15. Shivakumar’s mother alleged in her police complaint that the murder was due to a property dispute and that the assailants were encouraged by the MLA. Over the past week, Bharathinagar police arrested 15 people. Kiran was the 16th to be arrested. D Devaraja, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East), confirmed Kiran’s arrest, stating that video footage showed him attacking the victim “20 times” with a machete-like weapon. 

According to police investigations, Kiran was listed as a history-sheeter at the Malur police station in Kolar following the contract killing of a gram panchayat member. Two more suspects in the Shivakumar murder case — Danush and Jagadeesh alias Jaggi — are still absconding. Police said efforts were underway to apprehend them. 

Police have questioned Basavaraj, the MLA, twice in the murder case. He has claimed innocence and promised to cooperate in the investigation. The murder case has been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is in the process of taking over.