K T Naveen Kumar confesses to links with right wing, underworld

BENGALURU: A day after taking him into custody, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) grilled K.T. Naveen Kumar, founder of radical Hindutva outfit Hindu Yuva Sene, to establish his involvement in the murder of activist and journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was shot dead outside her residence on September 5, 2017.

SIT sleuths interrogated Naveen on Friday night and in the early hours of Saturday. Sources said that Naveen has so far only revealed about his associates involved in the arms and ammunition dealings. The team has now launched a hunt for Naveen’s associates.

He has confessed to his links with prominent radical right-wing outfits, gun dealers from North India and the underworld of coastal districts of Karnataka, a source said.

The SIT is sifting through his call record details since July 2017 to get his location and contacts. The SIT is also checking his whereabouts till his arrest on February 18 after the murder of Gauri.

Naveen was picked up from Kempegowda Bus Station on February 18 by the Organized Crime Wing of Central Crime Branch while he was waiting for his contact to handover 15 rounds of ammunition. On strong suspicion of his involvement in the killing of Gauri, the SIT on Friday took his custody for eight days and is interrogating him.