DySP suicide case: Supreme Court issues notice to VHP leader Praveen Khandya

Chikkamagaluru, Jul 25: The Supreme Court has issued notice to Praveen Khandya, a local leader of Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal leader, on a plea by the Karnataka government against the Karnataka High Court’s order granting him anticipatory bail in an abduction case which had resulted in the death of a policeman in 2016.

Khandya was said to be the mastermind of the incident relating to the abduction of Tejas Gowda, a businessman. The case had snowballed into a major controversy after deputy superintendent of police Kallappa Handibag committed suicide in Chikkamagaluru. He was accused of being a part of the whole conspiracy and was paid Rs 10 lakh.

On a petition filed by the Karnataka government, represented by advocate V N Raghupathy, a bench of Justices Abhay Manohar Sapre and Prafulla C Pant issued notice to Khandya, seeking his reply in the matter.

The state government challenged the high court's order of December 16, last year, contending Khandya was a habitual offender and faced many criminal trials.

The high court had allowed him anticipatory bail after he contended that he was a social activist fighting for cow protection and anti-conversion campaign and the case was foisted upon him after he unearthed the “illegality” committed by the Chikkamagaluru rural police in the 2016 case.

The police had named 14 people in the charge sheet and Khandya was named accused number four.

In January this year, Khandya was arrested by the police after it slapped provisions of the Goonda Act against him for his alleged involvement in about 33 criminal cases. However, he was again released on bail.