Bengaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder of senior journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh filed its first additional chargesheet on Friday.
The 9,235-page chargesheet, submitted at the special KCOCA (Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act) court, names 18 people, including 16 people who have already been arrested by the SIT.
The chargesheet is in addition to the 650-page chargesheet filed a few months ago in which K.T. Naveen Kumar alias Hotte Manja, and Praveen alias Suchit Kumar, both having links with Hindutva outfits, were charged under sections 118 (concealing design to commit offence), 114 (criminal abetment), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 35 (criminal intent) of the Indian Penal Code.
The chargesheet in the case included 131 witnesses including the family members, forensic experts and eyewitnesses.
The latest arrest in connection with Gauri's murder was of Vasudev Suryavamshi, who was first arrested by Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad in connection with the Nalasopara explosive case in October.
Suryavamshi allegedly facilitated the killers of Gauri with the bike, which they used to recce the area and to assassinate Gauri on the evening of September 5 outside her residence in R.R. Nagar.
Suryavamshi is also suspected to be involved the murder of rationalist Narendra Dhabolkar.
Among the 18 arrested, most of them have allegiance with Hindutva outfits.
