Bengaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has accelerated the investigation of journalist Gauri Lankesh’s murder and prepared a charge sheet against accused KT Naveen Kumar.
Gauri Lankesh was murdered on September 5, 2017, at her residence. The SIT has collected details on Naveen, two of his associates and two sharpshooters and mentioned the same in the charge sheet. That may be submitted to the court within 15 days.
Naveen played a major role in sketching the murder plan and implementing it. He discussed the plan with his associates in Kollegala and Sathyamangala forest areas. The accused himself admitted to several aspects of the crime, said the SIT sources. “According to available information, culprits threw the pistol used for the murder in a forest areas. We are searching for that. The point will be mentioned in the charge sheet,” they added.
“Before the murder, Naveen used to be present around Gauri Lankesh’s house at Rajarajeshwarinagar to study her movements. On the basis of doubt, 537 mobile calls were verified but didn’t find any clue. We were listening to the conversation of few organization leaders. Then we found the conversation of Naveen with someone regarding the murder of Prof. K S Bhagavan. When he was taken into custody, his involvement in the murder plot came to limelight,” sources said.
