Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (DC)

Bengaluru, May 30: Four persons have been arrested on charges of issuing threat to Mysuru-based rationalist writer Prof K S Bhagawan in 2015. The arrests were made by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder of activist and senior journalist Gauri Lankesh.

Naveen Kumar alias Hotte Manja, the only accused arrested in connection with the killing of Gauri Lankesh on September 5, 2017 had revealed during the investigation that Sujith Kumar alias Praveen, a native of Shikaripura was involved in the murder. Sujith was arrested on May 20 by the SIT sleuths.

Sujith during interrogation, named his associates Amul Kale, Amit Degwekar alias Pradeep Mahajan, both belonging to Maharashtra and Manohar Dundappa Yavade, a native of Vijayapura. They were arrested from Davangere as per the information given by Sujith.

During interrogation, the four accused confessed to the probe team that they had sent threat letter to Bhagawan on September 9, 2015.

However, their role in the sensational murder of Gauri Lankesh is yet to be known, said investigation officer M N Anucheth.

The four accused have been produced before the 5th ACMM court and the SIT has sent them to 10-day custody. The SIT is all set to submit a chargesheet running over 500 pages before a session court on Wednesday.

55-year old Lankesh, known as an anti-establishment voice with strong anti-right wing views, was shot dead at close range by unknown assailants at her home here on September 5 last year.