Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Dec 21: Criminal Investigation Department (CID) sleuths questioned Channabasavanagouda, the gunman of Ballari MP and BJP leader B Sriramulu, in connection with the case against KAS officer Bheema Naik on Tuesday, December 20. The sources at CID said that the questioning will continue again on Thursday.

Bheema Naik, who has been booked for abetting suicide of his car driver, is said to have helped Sriramulu’s friend and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy to convert black money to white.

B Sriramulu

The gunman of Sriramulu was interrogated based on the death note of Naik’s official car driver Ramesh Gowda. Ramesh Gowda had quoted the gunman as saying that he visited Taj Hotel on November 11 and helped covert Rs 25 crore to white money. The death note says that Channabasavanagouda claimed he often visited Sriramulu.

The sleuths are also examining the gunman’s mobile phone call details to gather information on exchange of old currency notes for new ones. They are ascertaining where Sriramulu was on November 11 and who other gunman was on duty on that day. Sriramulu has two other gunmen - Papesh Naik and Kotresh - provided to him by the District Armed Reserve police. All three of them have been guarding the BJP leader for the past five years, by turns.

DAR sources said Channabasavanagouda had been permitted to appear before the CID officials for questioning, after he informed the DAR authorities that he had received a notice from the investigation agency.

Two other gunmen of Sriramulu may also be questioned with regard to money laundering.

Sources denied the reports that CID had taken Channabasavanagouda into custody.