Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jun 4: On Thursday June 3, beleaguered former state minister, Hartalu Halappa, gave his nod to provide his blood samples to the criminal investigation department (CID) for conducting DNA test. Halappa had refused to give the blood samples and had fought a legal battle in the lower court and the High Court, against the demand made by the CID for his blood samples.

After Halppa’s petition seeking an order to the CID not to ask for his blood samples was rejected by the state High Court last week, there had been rumours that Halappa would approach the Supreme Court for relief. In its order, the High Court had told the department to use the samples of blood, hair and voice of Halappa, only for the purpose of investigating the incidents allegedly occurred on the day mentioned by the complainant. It has asked the department to make sure that the samples are not misused for any other purposes.

The CID officials collected blood samples of the complainant woman and her husband on Thursday by taking them to Victoria Hospital here. The policemen said that the copy of the High Court order empowering them to collect blood samples of Halappa had not reached them, and that they would be taking steps to collect blood samples, immediately upon getting the order copy.

Ravi B Nayak, lawyer representing the former minister, said that Halappa does not want to drag the matter any further. “Halappa’s only aim is to ensure that the investigation is conducted impartially,” he claimed.