The victim's mother said that her son had filed a complaint with the Bengaluru Police Commissioner in February, citing a threat to his life and naming MLA Byrathi Basavaraj and his associates Jagadish, Kiran.
Published Jul 16, 2025 | 5:45 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 16, 2025 | 5:45 PM
BJP MLA and former Minister Byrathi Basavaraj
Synopsis: BJP MLA and former Minister Byrathi Basavaraj has been named in an FIR in connection with the murder of 44-year-old Shivaprakash, a Bengaluru-based realtor and known rowdy sheeter, who was hacked to death outside his residence on Tuesday evening. In a complaint, the victim’s mother alleged that the murder was the result of a land dispute, while the victim had reportedly filed a complaint in February, citing threats to his life from Basavaraj and his associates.
A rowdy sheeter and Bengaluru-based realtor was hacked to death outside his residence in Bharathinagar on the evening of Tuesday, 15 July, allegedly over a land dispute.
The victim, Shivaprakash (44), was attacked by a group of 8–9 men wielding lethal weapons when he stepped out of his house for a smoke. His driver, Imran, was also assaulted and sustained injuries.
Following a complaint by the victim’s mother, Vijayalakshmi, the police have registered an FIR naming former Minister and BJP MLA Byrathi Basavaraj, who represents the KR Puram constituency, among others, in connection with the murder.
Vijayalakshmi alleged that her son had purchased a piece of land in 2023 and put up a shed on the site. On 11 February 2025, the property was allegedly encroached upon.
According to the complaint, Vijayalakshmi said her son had received a threatening call from a man identified as Jagadish, demanding that he transfer the General Power of Attorney (GPA) for the disputed property.
“When my son was at home, Jagadish called him and said, ‘This is my area. Make a GPA in my name for the said property, otherwise I will not let you go with your life.’ To which my son said that he would not sell the said property and cut the phone call,” she stated, adding that Jagadish continued to threaten her son over the same issue.
On the day of the murder, she said Shivaprakash had stepped out of the house around 8 p.m. and was seen speaking to his driver Imran Khan and another man, Lokesh. A few minutes later, when she returned to the balcony, all three were no longer outside.
She recalled hearing shouting and rushing out of the house to find her son being attacked by 8–9 unidentified men wielding a long stick and a machete. “Imran Khan, who went to free him, was also hit with a long stick while Lokesh was capturing the video on his mobile phone,” the complaint states.
Vijayalakshmi further stated that her son had filed a complaint with the Bengaluru Police Commissioner in February, citing a threat to his life and naming one Jagadish, one Kiran, and MLA Byrathi Basavaraj.
Shivaprakash had also reportedly submitted a video clipping to the police in which he was seen being threatened by Jagadish alias Jagga, said to be a close associate of Byrathi Basavaraj.
Furthermore, in the February complaint, Shivaprakash had said that he was a partner in a real estate firm called Extreme Point, and in 2024, he had obtained the GPA of a land parcel for development at Kitagnur in Bengaluru East taluk.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
