Published Feb 10, 2026 | 8:04 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 10, 2026 | 8:04 PM
BJP MLA and former Minister Byrathi Basavaraj
Synopsis: Presenting the Call Detail Records (CDR) analysis to the court, Special Public Prosecutor Jagadeesh said that Basavaraj and Jagadish (the primary accused in the case) had travelled together to the Kumbh Mela on the same flight, directly contradicting the MLA’s claim that he did not know Jagadish.
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday, 10 February, denied anticipatory bail to BJP MLA Byrathi Basavaraj in the case of murder of realtor and rowdy sheeter V.G. Shivaprakash alias Bikla Shiva.
A single bench of Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav rejected the anticipatory bail plea, resulting in the cancellation of an interim anticipatory bail granted to Basavaraj by a vacation bench of the high court on 26 December 2025.
Special Public Prosecutor BN Jagadeesh, who represented the state government, said, “We are not dealing with an ordinary person. We are dealing with a person who is an MLA, financially and politically powerful. It is pure propaganda to say that the prosecution is trying to arrest Byrathi Basavaraj with political malice by hiding all this.”
Presenting the Call Detail Records (CDR) analysis to the court, Special Public Prosecutor Jagadeesh said that Basavaraj and Jagadish (the primary accused in the case) had travelled together to the Kumbh Mela on the same flight, directly contradicting the MLA’s claim that he did not know Jagadish.
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.
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)
