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The Karnataka Government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday that the state government directed setting up of Special Courts to expediate case proceedings to the murder of acclaimed Kannada writer MM Kalburgi and journalist Gauri Lankesh. In response to the requests from the families of Kalburgi and Lankesh, Chief Minister sent two directives to the state”s home secretary to accelerate the legal process.
MM Kalburgi, aged 77 was murdered at his residence in northern Karnataka”s Dharwad on August 30, 2015. Police filed a charge sheet in the case in 2019. Even though evidence procedures have been completed, delays in court hearings prompted Umadevi, late writer”s wife to request for a special court.
“Though evidence proceedings of the family have been completed, hearing in the court has continued. The wife of the late writer, Umadevi, has requested the setting up of a special court as enough time has passed by,” Chief Minister said in a statement.
Gauri Lankesh, aged 55, was killed after being shot outside her home at Bengaluru”s Rajarajeshwarinagar on September 5, 2017. Chief Minister said that Special Investigation Team (SIT) examining the case has so far arrested 18 people and submitted a charge sheet with 1,200 pieces of evidence and 500 witnesses.
“The trial in the case began in July 2022 but since the court has to also deal with routine cases, the trial has progressed gradually. As a result, there is a requirement to assign a special court with a dedicated judge to conduct the trial, and this has been sought by Kavitha Lankesh, the sister of the victim. Please take appropriate action in this regard,” Chief Minister further added.
According to the investigations conducted by the Police, MM Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh fell victim to the same right-wing extremist group. SIT charged six individuals associated with a Hindutva right-wing extremist group for the Kalburgi murder, and connected them to the Gauri Lankesh case as well. In Gauri Lankesh”s case, 17 individuals from right-wing fringe groups are facing trial.
