A bail plea by a key accused in the 2017 murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh has been rejected by the Karnataka High Court despite an order for dropping stringent charges under the Karnataka Control of Organized Crime Act, 2000, issued by a single judge of the HC in April. With the state undecided about filing a plea, Lankesh’s sister, Kavitha Lankesh, had moved the top court last month. Since the April 22 order, as many as five other accused in the murder case have moved court seeking withdrawal of the KCOCA charges against them. “The members of this organization targeted persons who they identified to be inimical to their belief and ideology. Instead, according to the SIT, he used the facility as a shelter for the hitmen involved in killing Lankesh.

Source: Indian Express July 24, 2021 23:55 UTC