Gauri Lankesh murder case: SIT yet to get custody of key accused

Court postpones order, a setback to probe team

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) could not secure custody of Suresh Kumar, the 36-year-old key witness-turned-accused from Tumakuru on Saturday after a city court postponed the order to Monday, citing technical reasons.

It has been three days since the SIT formally arrested Suresh Kumar, who according to them, was the man responsible for providing logistic support to Gauri’s killer in Bengaluru, besides disposing the firearm used in the murder. The SIT is also tracing other people in Bengaluru who could have offered help to the gang in executing their plan to eliminate the journalist-activist.

“We are seeking the custody of the accused (Suresh Kumar) because time is precious and the investigation will get affected. Information is also coming out on daily basis and it will alert others,” argued Shrishail Vadavadagi, Special Public Prosecutor.

Suresh Kumar’s lawyer had sought more time to counter the SIT application to hand over him in police custody on Friday when the case came up for hearing before the III Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate(ACMM) Court resulting in the matter getting posted for Saturday. The case was heard by the Ist ACMM court since III ACMM magistrate is on Juvenile Justice Board duty on Saturday. The Ist ACMM magistrate V Jagadeesh said that the matter would come before III ACMM court on Monday to decide the custody matter.

Suresh Kumar was initially produced before Ist ACMM court on Thursday and he was remanded in judicial custody after he told the court that SIT officials assaulted him.

The SIT is now trying to locate or determine how the firearm used for the crime was disposed or hidden. The team is also trying to identify local elements which offered support to the gang of killers.


Twist in the tale

In an interesting twist to the Gauri Lankesh case, it has been revealed that a significant part of the conspiracy was reportedly hatched at the residence of a police inspector, attached with ACB, which was taken on rent by Suresh Kumar on Magadi Road. From the early days, SIT suspected that the gang had taken two houses on rent while planning their operation. Initially Kale, Amit and Praveen, along with KT Naveen Kumar, moved in at the behest of Suresh Kumar at his Seegehalli residence. Later in August, the alleged shooter Parashuram Waghmare and Ganesh Miskin were asked to stay in a residence on Magadi Road for carrying out recee. The SIT refused to comment on the identity of the cop.