Byrathi Basavaraj served police notice to join history-sheeter murder probe

BENGALURU: The High Court has refused to grant relief to MLA Byrathi Basavaraj in the Biklu Shiva murder case. The court has directed Basavaraj to appear before the investigating officer on Saturday.

Basavaraj had filed a petition seeking quashing of the murder case against him, which was heard by the High Court. His lawyer Sandesh Chowta, argued that Basavaraj was falsely implicated in the case and that the FIR did not mention his name initially.

Public prosecutor Belliyappa said that a complaint was filed against Byrathi Basavaraj four or five months ago. The government counsel opposed the petition seeking quashing of the FIR, stating that Basavaraj was named in the complaint filed by the deceased person himself, who had alleged that Basavaraj had threatened him.

The court observed that the police should follow the law and directed Basavaraj to appear before the investigating officer on Saturday. The prosecution argued that the matter should be investigated now. After hearing the arguments, the court directed him to appear for the hearing.

“The police should act according to the law; they should act in accordance with Section 35(3), (4) & (5) of the BNSS. The complaint states that they abetted the crime. Therefore, protection cannot be given to the arrested person” the court said.

The court also noted that Basavaraj’s counsel had sought an urgent hearing of the petition, but the government counsel objected to it, stating that there was no need for an urgent hearing. The court directed Basavaraj to appear before the investigating officer at 11:30 am and posted the matter for further hearing.