From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Dec 8: Hai Bengaluru Editor Ravi Belagere, who has just received a stay order from the Karnataka High Court on the sentence to undergo one-year imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs 10,000 by the State Legislative Assembly on breach of privilege charge, has been arrested by the police on Friday afternoon for allegedly giving ‘Supari’ or contract to kill his former journalist colleague.

The City Crime Branch (CCB) police, who visited the residence of Kannada tabloid Editor, arrested him and took him in an ambulance as the latter’s health was not good.

According to information available, the City Crime Branch (CCB) police got leads while interrogating an alleged illegal gun runner that the Kannada tabloid Editor had contracted 'Supari' killers from Vijayapura district to kill his former colleague Sunil Heggaravalli in connection with illicit relationship with a woman.

It is reported that Ravi Belagere was angry with Sunil Heggaravalli due to his relationship with his (Ravi Belagere’s) wife.

The Special Investigation Team formed to track the killers of journalist Gauri Lankesh had recently arrested the illegal gunner from Vijayapura, identified as Tahir Hussain.

Vijayapura has gained notoriety as a hotbed for illegal gun running and ``supari’’ killers.

The CCB police, who visited Ravi Belagere’s residence, reportedly got leads from their interrogation that the Kannada tabloid Editor had hired Shashikar Mundewada, a supari killer, to finish off Sunil Heggaravalli.

Further details are awaited.

It may be recalled that Karnataka Legislative Assembly had sentenced Ravi Belagere and Yalahanka Voice Editor Anil Raj for one year imprisonment and payment of fine of Rs 10,000 each. The Karnataka High Court had stayed the sentence on Thursday.