The Supreme Court has sought a response from the State government on a petition filed by the mother of RTI activist and Congress worker Vasudev Adiga, challenging the Karnataka High Court’s order granting bail to the alleged mastermind of her son’s murder in January.

A bench of Justices T S Thakur and S J Mukhopadhaya issued notice to the State government and one of the accused, Subramanya Udupa, on the special leave petition filed by Sringeshwari Adiga.

The 45-year-old RTI activist’s body was found floating in the Madagadakere pond in Yemmedoddi village, about 20 km from Kadur town in Chikmagalur district on January 12 this year.

Adiga, general secretary of the Kota block Congress committee was missing since January 7, after he left his house on his motorcycle.

His mother lodged a complaint with the Shankarnarayana police, accusing her neighbour Ramesh Bayari, an astrologer,  and others of involvement in the crime, due to a long-pending land dispute.

The police later arrested nine persons including Bayari, his relative Udupa and the alleged contract killers.

HC order challenged

In her petition before the apex court, Adiga’s mother challenged the High Court order passed on March 6, granting bail to 52-year-old Udupa, who was arrested on January 18.

She contended that the High Court order was wrong as the police were yet to complete the investigation and file the chargesheet, after collecting evidence and detailing the role of each accused.

She claimed that one of the contract killers had already made a statement, charging Bayari and Udupa with hatching a conspiracy to kill the victim.

The petitioner also submitted that the High Court had failed to appreciate that the accused was a powerful person and could influence the probe in the matter.