Mangaluru, Sept 25: A local court in Dakshina Kannda has refused to grant anticipatory bail to four men from Sullia in Dakshina Kannada district who had received notice from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to appear before it for inquiry in connection with the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh.
First Additional District and Sessions judge B Sharada rejected the application filed by the suspects under Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
On July 27, the SIT had issued a notice directing Mohan from Chantala, Yathish M from Dhinitalla Mogra, Yathish B from Kollamogra and Kumudaksha from Madappady Jalumane in Sullia taluk to appear before it for interrogation.
The notice came following the arrest of Mohan Nayak, 50, a native of Sullia, in Bengaluru in July. Nayak was accused of providing shelter to Gauri’s killers.
However, the four youths did not appear before the probe body and, fearing arrest, moved anticipatory bail applications on August 7.
In the bail application, the four contended that they would be arrested if they appeared before the SIT. Public prosecutor Raju Poojary Bannadi opposed the application on the ground that a plea under Section 438 of the CrPC cannot be entertained in a case where provisions of the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act have been invoked. Mr. Poojary also contended that bail application cannot be filed in Mangaluru for a case registered in Bengaluru.
Comments
Add new comment