Bengaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder of activist and senior journalist Gauri Lankesh have arrested four people, who in 2015 had issued death threats to Mysuru-based rationalist writer Prof K.S. Bhagwan.
The accused were initially arrested to establish their link with the murder of Ms Lankesh, but during the interrogation they confessed to sending threat letter to Bhagwan on September 9, 2015.
Based on the information provided by Naveen Kumar alias Hotte Manja, the only accused arrested in connection with the killing of Lankesh on September 5, 2017, the SIT arrested Sujith Kumar alias Praveen, a native of Shikaripura on May 20.
During the interrogation, Sujith named his associates Amul Kale, Amit Degwekar alias Pradeep Mahajan, both belonging to Maharashtra and Manohar Dundappa Yavade, a native of Vijayapura. Sujith revealed to police that his three associates were in Davangere from where they were arrested.
Though the SIT is still interrogating the four accused about the killing of Lankesh, the Investigation Officer, M.N. Anucheth, said they have confessed to issuing life threat letter to Prof Bhagwan.
Meanwhile, the SIT produced the four accused before the 5th ACMM court and have taken their 10-day custody. In connection with Lankesh murder, the SIT is all set to submit a chargesheet running over 500 pages before a session court on Wednesday.
