Bengaluru, 16 July

State BJP MLA and former Minister Byrathi Basavaraj was booked for the murder of a rowdy-sheeter-turned-realtor.

According to police, Shivakumar alias Biklu Shivu was assaulted by a group of eight to nine unidentified individuals armed with iron rods and machetes around 8.10pm, near Bharathi Nagar in City, police said on Wednesday.

Shivaprakash’s mother, Vijayalakshmi, in her complaint, said she saw eight to nine people "assaulting" her son with iron rods and machetes. When his friend tried to intervene, they hit him too with an iron rod.

"Those unknown individuals murdered my son and fled the scene in a white Scorpio vehicle and a two-wheeler. I can identify them if I see them," Vijayalakshmi said in her complaint.

She also claimed the accused had been calling and threatening her son over the phone.

The police have registered a case against Basavaraj along with Jagadeesh, Kiran, Vimal, and Anil.

On 11 February, Jagadeesh and Kiran allegedly encroached on Shivaprakash’s property in Kitaknoor and evicted two female security guards from the premises, Vijayalakshmi alleged.

Top police officials, including DCP D Devaraj and Joint Commissioner Ramesh Bhanot, visited the spot and confirmed that Shivaprakash had a long criminal record, with 11 cases registered against him and a rowdy sheet opened in 2006.

Reacting to the FIR lodged against him, Basavaraj said, "I am a four-time MLA. There are no controversies surrounding me. Have there been any instances of me troubling anyone?"

He vowed to fight the case legally and said he would meet State Home Minister G Parameshwara.