The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has intensified its investigation into Shashidhar Venugopal’s ties with serving police officers and members of political parties. Mr. Venugopal had spearheaded the protest by police personnel planned on June 4.
The CCB is hoping to find out which of his political contacts and officials backed him in the planned protest, which they said was an attempt to ‘disturb’ the ruling party by targeting MLAs, Ministers and the Home Minister in particular.
During the June 3 raid on his house, the CCB found out his financial dealing with a few police officers and other government officials. The police seized a volume of documents that pointed to a thriving real estate business and a lavish lifestyle, and some electronic gadgets.
Shashidhar had filed several complaints with the Anti-Corruption Bureau against ruling party MLAs and Home Minister G. Parameshwara. Recently, he had filed a case against a dozen Ministers and MLAs accusing them of misusing their position to influence the transfer of police personnel.
The CCB is examining the documents and have sent the electronic gadgets to the forensic lab for a digital analysis, sources said. “Prima facie evidence shows that some police officers were in regular touch with Shashidhar. We are probing the nature of the links to ascertain whether they also have business links and personal interests pertaining to the protest,” sources in the department said.
Shashidhar has been booked for sedition and under various sections of ESMA.
