Gauri Lankesh murder probe: Special Investigation Team arrests Hindu Yuva Sene activist

Bengaluru: Almost six months after the sensational murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has taken 37-year-old KT Naveen Kumar into custody to investigate his involvement in the killing. It is the first time the SIT has confirmed an arrest and an important breakthrough in the investigation.

Naveen Kumar, a Hindu Yuva Sene activist from Maddur in Mandya district, was arrested by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) on February 18 near Majestic bus stand for illegal possession of bullets. During the probe, the CCB found evidence of links with some right-wing groups and “his involvement in facilitating the murderers to the house of Gauri”.

After informing the magistrate court on Friday, the SIT officials took Naveen Kumar to the custody for nine days to ascertain his possible role in the Gauri Lankesh murder case.


Investigation officer MN Anucheth confirmed that the SIT took Naveen Kumar for questioning over the murder case.

On September 5 last year, 55-year-old Gauri Lankesh was shot down with a 7.65mm country-made pistol outside her residence in Bengaluru. Kumar, police sources said, too was carrying a similar weapon that was used to kill Gauri.

Earlier, SIT officials had found CCTV footage of “suspects” conducting recce of the Gauri’s residence a few hours before killing her. On several occasions, Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy had claimed the SIT officials had strong clues and had identified without giving details.