Congress ex-corporator nabbed in east Bengaluru violence case

BENGALURU: Sleuths from Central Crime Branch on Wednesday night arrested former Congress corporator Rakib Zakir for his alleged role in setting the house of Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivasamurthy on fire on August 11.
The arson had turned into large-scale rioting in east Bengaluru in which four men were killed while 60 vehicles were damaged.
Zakir had appeared before the CCB for questioning but later turned elusive and switched off his phone after the arrest of an aide of former mayor Sampath Raj R.
Joint commissioner of police (crime) Sandeep Patil said: “After initial questioning, we’ve handed over Zakir to judicial custody on Wednesday night. We’ll move the court on Friday seeking his custody.”
One of the close associates of Raj, Zakir was named among the prime suspects in the preliminary chargesheet submitted to the court by the CCB on October 12. Raj was arrested on November 16 and is in judicial custody at Central Prison after his bail plea was rejected on Tuesday. The CCB has arrested 45 suspects in the case.
Police said Zakir, directed by Raj, mobilised around 50 men, including members of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), and sent them near Srinivasamurthy’s residence.
“Zakir and others led the group that barged into the house and set it on fire. At no point of time, they tried to pacify the mob or stop them from rioting,” an officer said.