Bengaluru riots: CCB files chargesheet; ex-Congress Mayor Sampath Raj named as accused

On Monday, the Central Crime Branch filed a preliminary chargesheet in connection with the large-scale violence that broke out in the DJ Halli and KG Halli areas of Bengaluru in August 2020. The 850-page chargesheet names 52 persons as the accused and contains more than 30 eyewitness accounts. Most importantly, two Congress corporators- former Mayor Sampath Raj and Zakir Hussain have been mentioned as accused number 51 and 52 respectively.

Earlier, Raj's personal assistant Arun Kumar had been arrested by the Central Crime Branch. He reportedly made over 10 calls to SDPI leader Muzammil Pasha and others, who are also accused in the riots case. As per sources, the police alleged that Congress leaders along with SDPI instigated the Bengaluru riots. The chargesheet has been prepared on the basis of video and technical evidence. The NIA has also registered two FIRs in the case under various sections of the IPC, UAPA, the Karnataka Prevention of Destruction and Loss of Property Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

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Bengaluru riots

At around 8.30 pm on August 11, a riot-like situation was witnessed between the KJ Halli and DJ Halli police station limits in East Bengaluru. A mob of more than 1000 people gathered outside the residence of Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy demanding immediate action against his relative Naveen. Soon, the police resorted to the use of force to contain the violence. By the time the situation was brought under control at around 1 am on August 12, three people were killed, nearly 60 police personnel including DCP Bhimashankar Guled were injured and over 300 vehicles were burnt in the violence. 

So far, more than 340 persons have been arrested for arson, stone-pelting, and attacking the police. This includes Naveen and Kaleem Pasha, the husband of Congress corporator Irshad Begum. Speaking to the media, Congress MLA  Akhanda Srinivas Murthy revealed that his house had been set on fire. Calling upon the police to probe and take action against the culprits, he questioned the safety of the common person in the city. On August 17, Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa announced that the state government would assess the damages caused to public and private property and recover the costs from the culprits.

Read: Bengaluru Violence: NIA Arrests Key Conspirator, Raids 30 Places To Unearth Conspiracy