A special court in Bengaluru handling cases against elected representatives delivered a split verdict on Friday in connection with the violent Ballari clash that occurred on January 1. The court granted bail to 25 of the 26 men arrested in the case, which resulted in the death of a Congress party worker. However, it rejected the bail plea of one key accused who is facing a murder charge.
Bail Denied for Gunman in Murder Charge
The sole accused to be denied bail is Gurucharan Singh, a private gunman employed by Sathish Reddy. Sathish Reddy is an aide of Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy. The court's decision to refuse bail to Singh stems from a crucial forensic report. The report conclusively established that the bullet which killed the Congress worker, identified as Rajashekhar, was fired from Singh's licensed rifle. This direct link led to the denial of his bail petition.
Details of the Arrests and Court Proceedings
The case saw a significant development last Monday when the Ballari police produced all 26 arrested men before the special court. Following the hearing, the court ordered all of them to be sent to judicial custody at the Bengaluru Central Prison. The group of arrested individuals included a notable number of security personnel attached to political figures.
The list of the accused included:
- Three private gunmen of Sathish Reddy: Gurucharan Singh, Mahendra Singh, and Baljit Singh.
- One government-appointed gunman of Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy named Basavaraj.
- Four government gunmen assigned to BJP MLA G Janardhana Reddy.
- One gunman of B Sriramulu.
In total, nine gunmen were among the 26 individuals presented before the court.
Implications and Next Steps
The court's decision to grant bail to the majority of the accused, while singling out Gurucharan Singh, highlights the weight of the evidence in the murder charge. The incident, which led to fatal violence and involved security personnel of rival political camps, underscores the tense political climate in the region. The investigation will continue to proceed as those granted bail are released, while Singh remains in custody awaiting further legal proceedings in the case.
