ORDER :

1. The petitioner is arraigned as Accused No.17 in the charge sheet filed by the respondent – Police for the offence punishable under Sections 302, 120B, 114, 118, 109, 201, 203, 204, 35 of IPC and Sections 25(1), 25(1b) and 27(1) of the Indian Arms Act, 1959 and u/s.3(1)(i), 3(2), 3(3) and 3(4) of Karnataka Control of Organized Crimes Act, 2000 [hereinafter referred to as “KCOC Act” for short].

2. Initially, charge sheet was filed against this petitioner and another by name Praveen who was absconding and thereafter, further charge sheet has been filed against 18 persons and in that subsequent charge sheet, the petitioner is shown as A17.

3. Before adverting to the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner in support of the petition and also the submissions made by the learned SPP Sri Chandramouli in support of their objection statement, it is just and necessary to have the brief factual matrix of the case:

The deceased Gowri Lankesh was a Journalist and a progressive thinker and serious critic who was aged about 56 years residing at House No.476/A, 15th Cross, Ideal Homes Township, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bengaluru City. She was participating in many progressive