The voluminous 4,236-page chargesheet however doesn’t name BJP MLA Byrathi Basavaraj, who is the fifth accused in the case.
Published Dec 23, 2025 | 2:12 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 23, 2025 | 2:12 PM
Murder. (Representative image)
Synopsis: The voluminous 4,236-page chargesheet however doesn’t name BJP MLA Byrathi Basavaraj, who is the fifth accused in the case. The MLA, who is currently absconding, had approached the Karnataka High Court, applying for anticipatory bail.
The Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Monday, 22 December, filed a chargesheet against 18 accused in the case of murder of realtor and rowdy sheeter V.G. Shivaprakash alias Bikla Shiva on 15 July 2025.
The voluminous 4,236-page chargesheet however doesn’t name BJP MLA Byrathi Basavaraj, who is the fifth accused in the case. The MLA, who is currently absconding, had approached the Karnataka High Court, applying for anticipatory bail.
On 19 December, the court rejected his anticipatory bail plea and directed him to approach the trial court with an appropriate application. Significantly, the court refused to grant any interim protection from arrest, paving the way for investigating agencies to summon or arrest the MLA as part of the probe.
However, the court also quashed the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA), 2000, invoked against him in the case. Searches are underway to find the MLA.
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 had 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 2025, 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.
(With inputs from Anisha Reddy)
