July 18, 2025

The High Court of Karnataka has instructed the city police to follow guidelines from the apex court when questioning former Minister Byrathi Basavaraj in connection with a murder case. The court's directive came after Mr. Basavaraj filed a petition disputing the FIR filed against him based on a complaint by Vijayalakshmi, who witnessed her son Shivaprakash's murder. While the police stated that the victim's mother alleged that her son was killed by unknown assailants instigated by the MLA due to a land dispute, Mr. Basavaraj's representatives argued that the complainant did not mention his name. They claimed that it was the police who accused the MLA despite no direct accusation from the complainant. The prosecution, however, presented Shivaprakash's previous complaint where he alleged threats from three individuals, including Mr. Basavaraj, suggesting a link to his death. The prosecutor also raised concerns about potential witness tampering by the accused. Vijayalakshmi reportedly clarified in television interviews that she did not implicate the MLA in her initial complaint, implying police involvement in including his name. The court is currently evaluating the case further.

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Tags: Karnataka high court, Byrathi basavaraj, Murder case, Police questioning, Apex court guidelines,