The Karnataka High Court on Monday observed that it is “remarkable” that even though investigation into RTI activist Lingaraju’s murder is being carried out since a fortnight, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike councillor Gowramma has not been arraigned as an accused in the case.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B.V. Nagarathna made the observation when amicus curiae Hashmath Pasha said that there was documentary evidence to show that the jewellery of the councillor, married to Govindaraju, who was arrested in connection with the murder, had been pledged to raise Rs. 20 lakh, allegedly given as payment to the contract killers.
Lingaraju was murdered on November 20, a few days after Lokayukta police raided the councillor’s residences on his tipoff that she owned assets more than her known sources of income.
Mr. Pasha told the court the investigation was not proceeding in the right direction as police have not recorded the statements of eyewitnesses. Following this, the Bench reiterated its earlier view that prima facie it was a fit case to be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation or to constitute a Special Investigation Team and asked the State government to respond in this connection within two days.
The Bench was hearing a public interest litigation initiated suo motu by it after the murder.
