On Monday January15, in the Gauri Lankesh murder case, the Supreme Court of India, led by Justices Vikram Nath and Satish Chandra Sharma, has issued a notice regarding the bail granted to Mohan Nayak, an accused in the case. The petition, filed by Kavita Lankesh, the younger sister of the slain journalist, challenges the bail and seeks its cancellation.
Gauri Lankesh, a renowned journalist and editor of the Kannada tabloid ‘Lankesh Patrike,’ was tragically shot dead outside her Bengaluru residence in 2017. This incident sparked a widespread investigation, leading to the filing of a chargesheet, with further investigations continuing. Nayak, arrested in 2018 and labeled as accused No.11, is alleged to have played a role in the conspiracy, specifically accused of harboring the individuals who executed the murder.
Despite multiple bail applications, Nayak’s requests were consistently denied until December of the previous year, when the Karnataka High Court granted him bail. The High Court’s decision was based on the duration of Nayak’s custody, exceeding five years, and the anticipation of a prolonged trial. The court noted that witness statements did not place Nayak at the meetings where Lankesh’s murder was allegedly planned.
The High Court also observed that the confessional statements of the accused were recorded before the approval for invoking the Karnataka Control of Organized Crime Act (COCA) was received. Furthermore, it was noted that the requirements under Section 19 of the Act were not met. Considering that the charges under COCA, even if proven, did not exclusively warrant death or life imprisonment, and Nayak had already served the minimum imprisonment period, bail was granted.
Kavita Lankesh, aggrieved by this decision, approached the Supreme Court. The case has drawn attention to the alleged links between Lankesh’s murder and other high-profile cases, including the murders of Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, and MM Kalburgi, with suspicions of a larger conspiracy involving right-wing fundamentalists.
The Supreme Court’s notice in this case is a critical juncture, reflecting the ongoing efforts to unravel the complexities surrounding these interconnected cases. The counsel team for the petitioner includes Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, AOR Aparna Bhat, and Advocates Rohan Sharma and Rashmi Singh.
The case, titled Kavitha Lankesh v. The State of Karnataka & Anr, Special Leave Petition (Criminal) Diary No(s). 52512/2023, now awaits further proceedings as the Supreme Court’s scrutiny of the bail decision introduces a new chapter in the pursuit of justice for Gauri Lankesh.
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