Gauri Lankesh murder case: SC issues notice to state government
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Karnataka government over a petition filed by filmmaker Kavita Lankesh challenging the High court order, dropping KCOCA charges against one of the murder accused of her sister Gauri Lankesh.
However, Supreme Court has directed that the bail plea of accused Mohan Nayak should not be decided based on the High Court order, which dropped Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA) charges against him.
Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari, and Aniruddha Bose headed three members bench, has observed that the bail should be decided uninfluenced by the High Court verdict.
High Court will pass an order on the bail plea of Mohan Nayak tomorrow. Petitioner contended that the High Court order on bail plea should not be influenced by its earlier order on KCOCA.
Kavita Lankesh, who had challenged the High Court order dropping KCOCA charges against Mohan Nayak.
Noted journalist and social activist Gauri Lankesh was shot dead in Bengaluru in 2017.
Petitioner's lawyer argued that the SIT has mentioned in the charge sheet that, accused were involved in an "organized crime syndicate", which attracted KCOCA charges.
Petitioner's counsel stated that accused Mohan Nayak was actively providing shelter to the killers and was involved in organized criminal activity, which attracts the provisions of the KCOCA.
