Gauri murder case: Kale accuses cops of assault

Amol Kale, the third accused in the Gauri Lankesh murder case, has told the court that the police had assaulted him and bounced him against the wall.

According to officials of the Special Investigation Team, Kale screamed and banged his head against the wall and the doors on seeing arrested accused Parashuram
Waghmore at 11.30 pm on Wednesday.

The counsel for the accused N P Amrutesh said the police used third-degree treatment on Kale in violation of the Supreme Court direction in handling the accused in police custody.

Urging the magistrate to record Kale’s statement on the police assault, the advocate said Kale and another arrested suspect Amit Degwekar are from Maharashtra and cannot speak Kannada.

I Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate V Jagadeesh initially told them to submit the request to record the statement before the III ACMM judge as he was only an in-charge judge, but the advocate insisted on recording the statement.

Kale told the judge that the police had punched and pushed him against the wall, injuring his head.

He also developed visible injuries on his face, left leg and right palm.

He felt dizzy and could not speak or stand. Kale showed his injuries in the open court.

Meanwhile, the SIT produced the four accused — Sujith Kumar alias Praveen (37) from Kappanahalli near Shikaripur, Shivamogga district; Amol Kale alias Bhaisaab from Maharashtra; Amit Degwekar alias Pradeep (38); and Manohar Dundappa Yadave alias Manoj (29), both from Ratnapura village, Vijayapura district — after 14 days of police custody. The court remanded all the four accused to judicial custody till June 27.

On seeing her brother in the court hall, Kale’s sister broke down and appeared inconsolable.

She had come to the court with her husband and father. Kale grew emotional while hugging his sister and father.