Naveen Kumar, was arrested with a firearm and bullets on March 9 for Gauri Lankesh's murder.
The Special Investigation Team or SIT, probing the murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh today filed its first charge sheet in the sensational case, naming alleged gunrunner and right-wing activist T Naveen Kumar as an accused.
The 650-page charge sheet filed before the First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate details the role of Naveen Kumar alone as an
accomplice in the murder, which had triggered a nationwide outrage.
Naveen Kumar has been charged under section 302 (murder), 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 118 (concealing a conspiracy) and 114 (abetment to the crime) of the IPC, and also under provisions of the Arms Act, SIT sources told PTI.
The charge sheet contains the
statement of about 131 witnesses,
the sources said. The SIT has submitted that it would submit more documents relating to the case in future.
Ms Lankesh, 55, known for her left leaning views, was shot dead in front of her house here on September 5 last year.
Naveen Kumar was arrested for
alleged illegal possession of firearm and ammunition on February 18. During the probe, the SIT claimed, it had found evidence of his involvement in the killing of Ms Lankesh, and also arrested him in that case.
The Arms Act case against Naveen Kumar would be heard by a city court tomorrow.
Naveen Kumar, hailing from Maddur in Mandya district, was arrested with a firearm and bullets when he was waiting for a client at Majestic bus stand in Bengaluru.
Sources claimed he had not only supplied firearms to the assassins of Ms Lankesh but also conducted a recce of the area around her residence and provided them vital inputs about her. He is also suspected to have ferried the prime accused to a place close to Ms Lankesh's house.
Police said Naveen Kumar had named a man from Shivamogga, Praveen Kumar, arrested by the city police in connection with an illegal arms case in May, in the Gauri Lankesh murder case. Sources said the SIT has taken into custody four more people suspected of involvement in Ms Lankesh's killing.
They have been identified as Manohar Edve, 30, Sujith Kumar alias Praveen, 37, Amol Kale alias Bhaisab, 40 and Amit Degwekar alias Pradeep. While Edve and Praveen are from Karnataka, Amol Kale and Amit Degvekar are from Maharashtra and Goa respectively.
They were arrested for hatching a plan to kill Kannada writer KS Bhagawan, known for his stance, sources said.
"Their involvement in Gauri Lankesh case is very much likely. That's why we have taken them into custody and are interrogating them closely," said a source in the SIT.