Journalist Ravi Belagere, arrested for allegedly giving supari to kill his colleague, was shifted to Bengaluru Central Prison, Parappana Agrahara, after a local court remanded him in judicial custody till December 23 on Monday. Sources said he has been admitted to the prison hospital, owing to ill health.
As his four-day police custody ended on Monday, the Central Crime Branch presented him before the First ACMM Court but did not seek an extension of his custody. However, Mr. Belagere’s counsel K. Diwakar also did not move a bail application. Left with no other option, he was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days, sources said.
But Mr. Diwakar made an application for medical care in custody for Mr. Belagere, stating that the client suffers from multiple ailments.
Legal counsel of the arrested journalist, Ravi Belagere, on Monday made an application before 1 ACMM Court for medical care in custody, stating that the client suffers from multiple ailments.
Counsel K. Diwakar said, “He suffers from multiple medical ailments, including hepatitis, uncontrolled diabetes, blood pressure, among other issues, almost a multi-organ situation. His medical tests from Victoria Hospital on Sunday reveal abnormal chest palpitations as well. We requested for hospitalisation in custody at a government hospital or at a private hospital, at our expense, in their custody.”
Justice Jagadish of 1 ACMM Court, however, did not grant hospitalisation right away. In his order, the judge asked the Mr. Belagere’s counsel to submit all medical records to the medical authorities of Bengaluru Central Prison, who will take a call as to whether he can be treated at the prison hospital or hospitalised elsewhere.
Mr. Belagere was examined by medical authorities of the prison and kept under observation at the prison hospital. Sources said he may be shifted to a hospital outside the prison on Tuesday, if he develops complications during the day.
Mr. Diwakar said they will soon make a bail application before the Sessions Court. “The case has sections 307 attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy, which attract a trial by the Sessions Court. So we did not want to spend much energy before a magistrate court. Moreover, he was arrested on Friday, following which were two holidays for the weekend. We have today applied for certified copies of the remand application and other necessary documents. A case of this magnitude needs much research and inputs to file a bail application,” he explained, adding that they would move a bail plea in another two or three days.
Security for Sunil Heggaravalli
Journalist Sunil Heggaravalli, who was the intended target for the hitman, has been given police security round the clock, after he petitioned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday. The city police had given police cover for his house in Vasantapura following the arrest of Mr. Belagere on Friday.
However, Mr. Heggaravalli met the Chief Minister on Monday petitioning for personal security. “Ravi Belagere called me from an associate’s mobile on Sunday, though he was in police custody. He has deep links with underworld elements, which puts my life at grave danger even though he is in prison. So I have requested for personal security,” he told media persons after his meeting with the Chief Minister. He was given two armed police personnel as personal security later in the day.
