Daijworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Sep 17: Premalata Shastri and Divakar Shastri couple, who had in the past filed complaint of repeated rape against spiritual head of Ramachandrapur Math, Sri Raghaveshwara Bharatiteertha Swamiji, has filed a complaint with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which has been probing the murder of veteran journalist, Gauri Lankesh, alleging possibility of the Swamiji having been involved with this murder.
The couple said in their complaint that Gauri Lankesh had published a series of articles against Raghaveshwara Swamiji in her weekly relating to the said rape case and that a defamation suit had been filed relating to this issue against her. Therefore, Shastris have expressed the suspicion about the involvement of the Swamiji with this murder and the possibility of him getting the murder executed through hired killers. They have requested SIT to investigate the case from this angle too.
Officials involved with the probe who are sifting through documents for possible evidence, said that they have not found supporting evidence for the allegation. They however plan to serve notice to the Swamiji, requesting him to record his statement on the issue.
Shastri couple filed the complaint on the third day after Gauri's death, along with certain documents. It is said that over a hundred calls received on SIT helpline have urged the officials to summon the Swamiji and question him. However, a release from the Math said that some persons are trying to unnecessarily drag the name of the Swamiji in the case in an attempt at his character assassination.
SIT, in the meanwhile, summoned Vikram Sampath, founder of Bengaluru Literary Festival, and interrogated him. In a post in social media, Vikram Sampath condemned the concerned for calling him to record statement. He said he has never met Gauri Lankesh and that he had condemned her killing through twitter, when being in London. He said a lot of questions were posed to him, and wondered whether SIT will question the government and many individuals against whom Gauri Lankesh had written in her publication.
It is said that the SIT has excluded family dispute being a cause for this murder, after questioning family members and relatives. The issue of property dispute has been resolved and the matter in which Indrajit Lankesh had pointed pistol at his sister was settled in the presence of senior members of the family. It is said that Gauri's mother had successfully mediated in the matter of the family property at Nelamangala.