BENGALURU: Journalist Sunil Heggaravalli recorded his statement in the presence of a magistrate on Thursday, in connection with the case in which Ravi Belagere, journalist and editor of ‘Hai Bangalore’, a Kannada weekly tabloid, had allegedly given ‘supari’ to kill him.
Heggaravalli appeared before the 14th ACMM Cout at Mayo Hall and recorded his statement for around one-and-a-half hours.
The Central Crime Branch police, who are investigating the case, had asked him to appear before the magistrate and record his statement under Section 164 (recording of confessions and statements) of the Code Of Criminal Procedure.
It is learnt that Heggaravalli has given a detailed statement about his relation with Belagere and the circumstances that led Belagere to give supari (contract) to kill him.
Heggaravalli told Deccan Chronicle that he would file a petition in the Sessions Court, which is hearing the bail petition of Ravi Belagere, requesting it not to grant regular bail to the accused.
“Belagere is on interim bail now. My advocate will submit a petition to the court on Saturday, requesting it not consider Belagere’s bail plea. Because, there is already threat for my life and if he is released on bail, the risk will be higher. On these grounds, I appeal to the court to not grant him regular bail,” he added.
Further, he clarified that he had no complaints against the CCB police.
“My statement was wrongly taken by some media and projected that I am not happy with the way CCB is treating Ravi Belagere. But my question was how no FIR was registered against Belagere under the Wildlife Protection Act, as a deer skin and tortoise shell were seized from his house. Later, I got to know that the Kaggalipura forest officials have taken up a case. I have nothing to blame on the CCB,” he said.
