The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the State government to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the murder of RTI activist Lingaraju.
The court also directed the government to frame rules and regulations for the safety of RTI activists.
A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen passed the order while hearing a suo motu case registered by the court after the murder.
On the arrest of Azad Nagar councillor Gowramma, Justice Sen observed, “She is the main person. We also take note of the statement of Additional Government Advocate that councillor in question has been arrested in Tanjore in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday morning at 9.30 am.”
Justice Sen directed the SIT, headed by Abdul Ahad, SP, CID, and Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Pranab Mohanty, to submit the report within 90 days from the arrest of the accused L Govindaraju.
The investigation should be completed within February 18 and the report has to be submitted to the court on February 10, the Bench said and gave liberty to the team to take other officers for the team.
Earlier, during the hearing, Amicus Curiae Hashmath Pasha told the court that RTI activists should be given protection and the State government has to frame rules and regulations for their safety, along with that of the complainants and the witnesses.
Lingaraju was hacked to death by some unidentified persons on November 20 allegedly at the behest of Gowrammma's husband Govindaraju. He had filed a complaint with the Lokayukta police for possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.