BENGALURU: A 44-year-old man with a criminal background was hacked to death by a group of assailants near Halasuru Lake in Bengaluru on Tuesday night, in what police suspect may be linked to a property dispute. The mother of the deceased has filed a complaint naming KR Pura MLA Byrathi Basavaraj and others, alleging they were involved in the murder.The victim, Shiva Prakash alias Bikkalu Shiva, was a resident of Meanee Avenue Road in Hermit Colony, Sivanchetti Gardens, and was a rowdy sheeter at the Bharathi Nagar police station with 11 previous criminal cases against him.
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Police said a rowdy sheet had been opened in his name in 2006 and that he had recently attended a rowdy parade.According to initial investigations, Shiva was attacked in front of a hotel just a few metres from his home around 8.10pm. He had been speaking with his driver, Imran Khan and another friend, Lokesh, when the assailants arrived. The attack was described by police as extremely brutal, with a senior officer telling The Times of India that Shiva’s “skull was smashed into pieces” and his face left “totally disfigured”.Witnesses dining at the hotel reportedly fled in panic. Police have detained five suspects in connection with the murder and are currently questioning them.Mother names MLA, alleges threats and pressure over landIn a formal complaint, Shiva’s 68-year-old mother, Vijayalaxmi, accused MLA Byrathi Basavaraj, along with Jagadish, Kiran, Vimal, Anil and others, of being involved in her son’s death. She claims the murder was linked to a dispute over property in Kithaganur village, East Bengaluru.According to her statement, Shiva had purchased a property in 2023 and was the GPA (General Power of Attorney) holder. He built a shed on the land and appointed two women as security guards. On 11 February, she alleges, a group led by the accused, including Jagadish and Kiran, forcibly evicted the women and demanded Shiva transfer the GPA rights to Jagadish.She further claimed that Jagadish threatened Shiva, saying he would not be spared if he refused. Despite filing a complaint, Vijayalaxmi said Shiva continued to receive threats and had informed his family that his life was in danger.On 13 July, Shiva told his family he would be attending a friend’s birthday party and wouldn’t return that night. He came back on the afternoon of 15 July, had lunch, and then took a nap. Later that evening, he argued with his driver over a delay in delivering his car keys and instructed him to bring the vehicle immediately. Shortly after 8pm, he was seen speaking to Imran and Lokesh near the hotel.Vijayalaxmi said she noticed her son was no longer there when she returned to the balcony a few minutes later. Hearing commotion, she rushed outside and witnessed eight to ten men attacking Shiva with lethal weapons. She said Imran was also attacked when he tried to intervene, while Lokesh allegedly filmed the assault on his phone. The attackers then fled the scene in an SUV and on two-wheelers.The FIR, registered at Bharathi Nagar police station, names MLA Byrathi Basavaraj as Accused No. 5. The case has been filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 103 (punishment for murder) and 190 (offence committed in prosecution of common object by unlawful assembly).Investigation underwayJoint Commissioner of Police (East), B Ramesh, said, “We will know the motive behind the murder once we find out who the assailants are.”Police are examining CCTV footage and continuing to question suspects as part of the investigation.I don’t have a small clue: MLA Byrathi BasavarajSpeaking to the media, MLA Byrathi Basavaraj said, “I don’t have a small clue or information about the incident. I don’t know who Bikkalu Shiva is, where the property is, or any other details. But without reason, my name was included in the FIR, and I got to know about it through the media. I am deeply pained by the development. I will fight against it legally, and I will be contacting the home minister to explain to him that I don’t have any role.“As mentioned in the media, the deceased filed a complaint with the police many days ago. Why did no one inform me about it or try to get my clarification? I am not sure if it is a political conspiracy or another reason,” Basavaraj said. “I will appear before the police if they summon me for questioning about the case,” he added. Meanwhile police sources say that the investigating officer may serve him notice at the earliest.
