Following the Supreme Court’s denial of his bail plea, Bengaluru BJP MLA Byrathi Basavaraj, accused in the murder case of rowdy-sheeter Shivaprakash alias Biklu Shiva, is expected to surrender before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Bengaluru. Security has been heightened around the CID office, with sources suggesting that Basavaraj may surrender soon. The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymala Bagchi, advised Basavaraj to face the trial with courage after noting false claims regarding his links to the main murder suspect.
The CID has intensified search operations after Basavaraj’s bail plea rejection, giving him the option to surrender to investigating officers or approach the Special Court for MLAs/MPs for a regular bail petition. Earlier, the Karnataka High Court had dismissed his anticipatory bail plea, leading to the possibility of his imminent arrest. Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav’s bench vacated the interim protection from arrest granted earlier, prompting CID to launch a search for the MLA who was reported absconding.
Basavaraj, accused of murder in the Biklu Shiva case, has been named as the fifth accused and is required for custodial interrogation to unravel the murder’s broader conspiracy. The MLA, previously linked to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah before joining BJP, faces allegations of direct involvement with the prime accused, rowdy Jagadeesh alias Jagga. Investigators have gathered crucial evidence against Basavaraj, emphasizing the necessity of his custodial interrogation.
