The family members of RTI activist Vinayak Baliga, who was murdered here on March 21, and activists have demanded the setting up of a special police team for further investigation in the murder and arrest those believed to be involved in the incident.
Talking to reporters here on Thursday, rationalist and social activist Narendra Nayak said that since the arrest on June 26 of Naresh Shenoy, the main accused in the murder, the police do not appear to have made any headway in finding the others involved in the crime. Though the police have arrested seven persons, they are yet to arrest those who conspired to carry out the murder.
No action has been taken against those who sheltered Naresh Shenoy for three months when he was on the run, he said.
Mr. Nayak said that they have confidence in Police Commissioner M. Chandra Sekhar, who, he said, has ensured fair investigation in the case.
“The delay in arresting those behind this murder is making us feel that lower-rung policemen are not showing interest in the case,” he alleged.
Mr. Nayak said that they suspected that some police officials were aiding the accused.
The government has to set up a special investigation team, he added.
Harsha Pai, younger sister of Baliga, said that two letters written by her brother about the alleged financial misappropriation at the Venkatarama temple here were missing from the records seized by the police.
These two letters are important to the case. The police officials who had seized the documents should be questioned, she said.
Mr. Nayak said that they would wait for a few days for the government to decide on handing over investigation to a special police team.
If the government does not form the team, they will approach the High Court of Karnataka.
Mr. Nayak said that he and the Baliga family members are assisting the prosecution in opposing grant of bail to Naresh Shenoy and the other accused.
