Sampath Raj is absconding since post-Covid discharge from city hospital
BENGALURU:
The Karnataka High Court on Friday directed the Investigating Officer probing the Bengaluru riots case to take all possible steps to trace absconding ex-mayor Sampath Raj and arrest him.
The former Congress mayor is accused of having instigated a mob to vandalise and torch the residence of his own party MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy on the night of the riots in August.
A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice S Vishwajith Shetty directed the IO (Crime No 219/2020) to submit a report in a sealed cover to the court on the steps taken to trace the accused before the next hearing on November 25.
The petitioner, advocate N P Amruthesh, appearing in person argued that the police had not investigated the case properly and the accused has been absconding after being discharged from a hospital where he had undergone treatment for Covid-19.
However, counsel for the government said there was no laxity on the part of the IO, and noted that the accused had filed an anticipatory bail plea.
‘Nothing to prevent arrest’
After hearing both arguments, the bench observed, “It is pointed out that though he (the accused) has applied for anticipatory bail, no order has been passed protecting him from arrest. He is a prominent politician and ex-mayor of Bengaluru. There is substance in the grievance about the delay in arresting the accused.”
Infra for claims officer
Concurrently, the bench directed the state government to provide better infrastructure to Justice (retd) H S Kempanna, who is the claims commissioner vis-a-vis destruction of property during the August 11 riots in the city’s DJ Halli and KG Halli areas.
