Handibag case: Khandya's aide held by Karnataka CID

BENGALURU:  The CID police investigating the suicide of Chikkamagaluru DySP Kallappa Handibag, have arrested a member of Bajrang Dal State Committee in connection with the kidnap of Tejas Gowda, which led to the suicide of the police officer.

The accused has been identified as Pradeep, a resident of Narayanapura in Basavanahalli in Chikkamagaluru. Police said that he was a close aide of Praveen Khandya, the prime suspect in the kidnap case.

“Pradeep runs a canteen in Chikkamagaluru. He was summoned for questioning on Saturday at the CID headquarters,” said Sonia Narang, DIG (CID). As his role in the kidnap case was established, he is arrested. He had helped Khanya in the kidnap. He will be produced before a magistrate in Chikkamagaluru on Sunday,” she added.

Khandya and two other accused in the case are still absconding and efforts are on to nab them. The accused had kidnapped Tejas Gowda and released him after getting a ransom of Rs 10 lakh.

Later, Gowda had filed a complaint in Basavanahalli police station, accusing DySP Handibag of kidnapping him, as his friend had spoken about the ransom money with the DySP over phone. Following this, the DySP had committed suicide.

However, the DySP’s role in the kidnap is not yet established and police
suspect he was used by the accused, who misled him.