The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Gauri Lankesh murder case has detained a Belagavi-based hotelier, who was an active member of Shiv Pratishtan Hindustan, a Hindutva organisation led by Manohar alias Sambhaji Bhidhe of Maharashtra.
A senior SIT official said he was picked up for questioning. “We will arrest him if probe indicates his role in the case,” the official said.
Sources said the SIT suspected him of providing shelter to Parashuram Waghmare, the alleged shooter. The SIT had found that Waghmore was given arms training by alleged kingpin Amol Kale in Belagavi. The chargesheet against K.T. Naveen Kumar, the first person to be arrested, also mentions that several conspiracy meetings were held in Belagavi and Kumar had met other co-conspirators here.