A special investigation probe started in September 2017 has recently revealed links to the extremist Hindutva group Sanatan Sanstha and its affiliate Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS).
A report by Indian Express articulated that Mohan Gowda, spokesperson to the HJS placed one of the accused, Naveen Kumar, in touch with the Sanathan Sanstha at the period of planning Gauri Lankesh’s murder.
A senior investigative journalist, Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her residence in Bangalore last year. Naveen Kumar was arrested in connection with the case on March this year, while last week, four was his associates were placed into custody.
Alleged claims have surfaced that Gowda connected Naveen Kumar last year to Sujeet Kumar also referred to as Praveen, a 37-year-old Udupi resident, who was part of this unit and was arrested by the police on May 31.
The four accused arrested are Amol Kale alias Bhaisab (39) an activist of the HJS from Maharashtra, Amit Degwekar alias Pradeep (39) a Sanatan Sanstha activist and resident of Goa and Manohar Edave (28) a resident of Vijayapura in Karnataka.
Recently, a forensic report by the SIT has revealed similarities between the gun used to kill Gauri and MM Kalburgi, showcasing a linkage between the two murders and deepening the investigative process regarding the probe into her murder.
