Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 10: The bail application moved by K T Naveen Kumar alias Hotte Manja, who has been arrested in the case pertaining to veteran journalist, Gauri Lankesh's murder, has been dismissed.

Judge of the sessions court here, Ramalinge Gowda, passed an order quashing the bail application. Hotte Manja happens to be the first ever accused arrested in the said case.

Officials of Special Investigation Team (SIT) had arrested Manja from Maddur on the allegation of drawing up conspiracy to kill Gauri Lankesh. He had filed application for bail after being behind the bars for considerably long period, after he was arrested from Majestic area in the city on February 18.

The court had concluded hearing of the bail petition on July 6 and reserved its judgement for July 9. Advocates for the SIT had argued against granting bail to Hotte Manja as they felt that the investigation into the murder will go astray he he gets bail.

Advocate the for the accused had argued that Naveen Kumar had not played any role in the said murder and that SIT had failed to gather any evidence about his role in the case. On this basis, he had argued in favour of bail.