The Bengaluru police arrested four more suspects on Monday in connection with the murder of rowdy-sheeter and realtor Shiva Kumar alias Bikla Shiva. BJP MLA and former minister Byrathi Basavaraj is among the suspects in the case, where 11 people have been arrested.
The four suspects are Avinash Dinnahalli, Sudarshan, Murugesh, and Narasimha, all from Tekal village in Kolar district’s Malur taluk, whom Assistant Commissioner of Police Rangappa’s team arrested from Dinnahalli village in the district late on Monday.
Earlier on Monday, Arun alias Temu from RS Palya and Naveen from Banaswadi, both in their thirties, were arrested in the case. The police are yet to arrest Jagadish alias Jagga, the prime suspect in the case.
The probe has revealed that the killers were hired to eliminate Shiva Kumar.
On July 15, a group of people hacked Shiva Kumar alias Biklu Shivu, a resident of Halasuru, to death while he was standing outside his home with his friend and his driver, according to a police complaint filed by his mother.
Commissioner of Police Seemant Kumar Singh assured strict action for any police lapses discovered during the investigation. There have been allegations that the police had ignored Shiva Kumar’s complaint where he stated that he faced death threats.
Byrathi Basavaraj will appear before investigating officer Assistant Commissioner of Police Prakash Rathod on Wednesday for his second interrogation.
According to the FIR, Basavaraj allegedly backed the assailants.
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The police questioned the BJP MLA for over three hours on July 19 after he appeared before them in response to a summons and following a direction from the Karnataka High Court.
The investigation has also led to the detention of R D Anil, who allegedly provided the white Mahindra Scorpio used as a getaway vehicle by the assailants, for questioning. He was let off after questioning.
Sources suggest that Anil may be a close relative of the MLA, though police have not confirmed this connection.