Bengaluru: In a major legal setback, the Special Court for Elected Representatives in Bengaluru has rejected the anticipatory bail petition filed by BJP MLA Byarathi Basavaraj in connection with the murder of rowdy-sheeter Shivaprakash alias Biklu Shiva.
With the rejection of the plea, the legislator now faces the imminent possibility of arrest in the high-profile murder case.
The bail application, filed by Basavaraj as the fifth accused in the case, was dismissed on Tuesday by Special Court Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhatt. The detailed order is yet to be released.
High Court Had Earlier Denied Relief
Earlier, on December 19, the Karnataka High Court had set aside the State Governmentโs order invoking provisions of the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act (KCOCA) against Basavaraj and four other accused in the case.
However, despite quashing the KCOCA invocation, the High Court had rejected Basavarajโs anticipatory bail plea, citing the seriousness of the offence.
In its order, the High Court had observed that the murder investigation was still at a crucial stage, and granting anticipatory bail at this juncture could amount to interference with the investigation. Hence, the court declined to extend protection from arrest.
No Interim Protection
Following the High Court verdict, Basavarajโs counsel had sought interim protection, arguing that since the KCOCA provisions were quashed, the MLA should be safeguarded until he approached the trial court for bail.
The High Court, however, refused to grant any interim relief.
Now, with the trial court also rejecting the anticipatory bail, legal sources say the BJP MLA is facing renewed and intensified legal jeopardy in the Biklu Shiva murder case.
Investigating agencies are expected to take the next course of action based on the courtโs order, while further legal options for the accused remain limited.
