Lingaraju Murder Case: SC Issues Notice in Plea Against Accused Acquittal

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice in a challenge to the acquittal of all individuals who were accused in the murder case of Right to Information (RTI) activist and journalist, Lingaraju.

A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah sought a response from the acquitted persons in the appeal contesting the Karnataka High Court’s decision to acquit them.

Among those accused earlier of murdering Lingaraju were C Govindraju, a candidate contesting on a Janata Dal (Secular) ticket from Chamrajpet Assembly constituency, Bangalore, and his wife, Gowramma, along with ten others.

The Case

Lingaraju was killed on November 20, 2012, in broad daylight outside his house. Prior to his murder, he had filed several corruption complaints against the accused politicians, Govindraju, and Gowramma. Based on these complaints, the police conducted a raid on the duo’s house on November 9, 2012, just 11 days before the murder occurred.

Following the murder, the Karnataka High Court established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct an inquiry into the case. Subsequently, on October 28, 2020, the Bengaluru session court convicted twelve individuals, including hired killers, Govindraju, and Gowramma, for murder under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), sentencing them to life imprisonment.

However, on November 4, 2022, the Karnataka High Court acquitted all the accused after an appeal was made.

Now, the State government has challenged this order of acquittal before the Supreme Court.