The court also directed that in the event of the MLA’s arrest, he would be released on bail after paying a bond of Rs 5 lakh with sureties. (File photo)
The Karnataka High Court Friday granted ad-interim anticipatory bail to BJP MLA Byrathi Basavaraj in the Bikla Shiva murder case. The matter was heard by a vacation bench consisting of Justice G Basavaraju.
While passing the order for interim bail, the bench stated, “Since the petitioner had obtained protection from the coordinate bench of this court until 19 December, considering the facts and circumstances of the case and conduct of investigation by the IO, at this stage without expressing any opinions on the merits of the case, it is just and proper to grant ad-interim till the disposal of the main petition (for anticipatory bail).”
During the submissions on Friday, Basavaraj’s counsel stated that the MLA had been ready to cooperate over the past five months but had not been summoned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for the investigation. It was also stated that in the current chargesheet, Basavaraj’s name was not yet mentioned, and further time had been sought to investigate him. The proceedings against him were characterised as a “political vendetta”.
The murder case involved the hacking to death of real estate operative V G Shivaprakash alias Bikla Shiva in July this year, outside his house in East Bengaluru, within the jurisdiction of the Bharathinagar police station. The murder was carried out by a gang of hired assailants at the alleged behest of Jagadish alias Jaga, a local gangster who had a series of disputes with the deceased with regard to the real estate sector. Jagadish is alleged to have links with Basavaraj and is accused no. 1 in the murder case, while the MLA is accused no. 5.
Last Friday, the Karnataka High Court ruled that the stringent Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act, which is intended to target organised crime, could not be applied against Basavaraj. The existing protection against “coercive action” during the proceedings had also come to an end with this order.
Basavaraj had then approached the special court for MPs and MLAs for anticipatory bail in the matter, which denied his request. He had then approached the Karnataka High Court in the current matter.
The case is set to be heard further in January.