Bengaluru: The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police, who have intensified the questioning of journalist and editor of Kannada weekly tabloid ‘Hai Bangalore’, are now focusing on building the case strong and are on the hunt to Viju Badager, the associate of sharpshooter Shashidhara Ramachandra Mundewadi, who accompanied him to Sunil Heggaravalli’s house to gun him down.
A senior CCB official said that though there the case has not progressed much, they were trying to get clinching evidences against those involved in the case. “We have to get some more witnesses and suspects. Most importantly, we need to question Viju Badager as part of the probe. We should get him first and teams are in North Karnataka in search of him.
Also, we are yet to question Sunil Heggaravalli and his statement holds the key to the investigation.” On Saturday, Ravi Belagere was questioned by several senior officers, including the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime). But Belagere is said to be not cooperating with the interrogators and is stonewalling them with the stock reply that he has no connection with the case. Faced with the challenge, the police are collecting circumstantial, material and technical evidence to build a watertight case against him. It is learnt that the police have concrete evidence about the phone call details that expose the nexus between Belagere and Shashidhara.
Drama at second wife’s house
In the afternoon, Belagere was taken to his second wife Yashomathy’s residence at Pattanagere in Rajarajeshwari Nagar to search the house as part of the probe. It is said that the police asked Belagere not to enter the house, and he was left fuming. He reportedly hit back at the police, saying, “This is my house and how can you ask me to not enter. What sort of investigation is this?”
During the visit, Belagere reportedly did not speak to Yashomathy. After a search of 30 minutes, the police returned along with Belagere. As he was suffering from low sugar levels, he was taken to Victoria Hospital for treatment and then to the CCB office. The officials have reportedly prepared a questionnaire to get his reply and are keen to extract information from Belagere, as his police custody ends on Monday.
Ravi Belagere is accused no. 2
Meanwhile, Ravi Belagare has been named accused number two in the FIR filed at the Subramanyapura police station. As per the complaint filed by CCB Inspector R.P. Anil, Shashidhara is the prime accused, followed by Ravi Belagere and Viju Badager.
The FIR mentions that Belagere had given a .32 revolver, two bullets and a knife to Shashidhara, asking him to gun down Sunil Heggaravalli, on August 28. The same day Shashidhara and Viju had gone near Sunil’s house, but could not accomplish the job. The trio have been booked for attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention and under two sections of the Arms Act.
CCB to write to forest dept
In connection with a deer skin and a tortoise shell seized from Ravi Belagere’s office on Thursday, the CCB will write to the Forest Department to inspect the seized items. “As possessing such items is violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, we will inform the Forest Department and ask them to investigate. Belagere’s family members and advocates are telling us that it was gifted to Belagere by his fans. However, the case has to investigated by the Forest Department,” an official said.
Life at CCB office
Ravi Belagere has been allowed to have home food and his son Karna and daughter Chetana are spending most of their time on the CCB office premises, as they are concerned about their father’s health. Meanwhile, it is learnt that Belagere, a chain smoker, is upset with the CCB police for not allowing him to smoke whenever her wishes to. “He keeps asking us to give him cigarettes, but we are giving it only when he could not resist. When we give him one or two, he tells, ‘this is not enough for me’,” a source said.
