[HumJanenge]

Murder accused studies his case in jail

Rajappa used RTI to source a copy of the chargesheet accusing him of
murdering fellow-advocate and girlfriend. He's busy poring over the
pages

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/10/20110104201101040728583578604ccf/Murder-accused-studies-his-case-in-jail.html

Lodged inside Parappana Agrahara jail, S L Rajappa, an undertrial, has
managed to obtain a copy of the chargesheet accusing him of murdering
his fellow advocate and girl friend Naveena, using the Right to
Information Act (RTI). He says he got the chargesheet to equip himself
with the facts of the case.

Rajappa
The case relates to the murder of advocate Naveena by Rajappa inside
the Karnataka High Court on July 8, 2010, in front of court hall
number 4. Rajappa, an advocate, stabbed J S Naveena, another advocate
and slit her neck right in front of some other advocates. He then fled
the spot. An onlooker gave him chase, but he entered a toilet and
locked himself up.

Policemen on duty at the high court broke open the door of the toilet
to find Rajappa attempting to kill himself. He had injured himself in
the chest and neck, and was shifted to hospital. Naveena's colleagues
attempted to save her, but her wounds were so grievous that she died a
few minutes after the incident.

After spending many months in hospital, Rajappa was shifted to
Bangalore Central Jail. As he still can't walk properly, he has been
admitted to the hospital inside the jail.

Meanwhile, he has equipped himself with four CrPC and IPC legal books
and the chargesheet and is preparing for the hearing which will began
shortly. The jail ward has become a study room for him. He keeps
himself busy studying the case in detail and making notes from the
legal books provided by his friends.

Robe over
The Vidhana Soudha police have completed investigations and have
chargesheeted him. As the incident occurred in broad daylight in front
of many people, investigations were that much easier for the police.
The police feel they have a strong chargesheet as they have four
eyewitnesses, a confessional statement and circumstantial evidence
which proves beyond doubt that Rajappa committed the crime.

The police have even filed the transcript of a 200-page conversation
between Rajappa and Naveena which further strengthens the case. So
Rajappa, who has accessed the transcripts, is busy readying himself to
face a series of questions by the prosecution.

"Whenever I see Rajappa, he is busy reading one or the other book. He
has got a few legal books in his ward and is seen marking the books or
writing on notepads. I have also seen him studying the chargesheet,"
said a jail official.
Still In Jail hospital
"It is true that he is busy reading legal books. As there are
thousands of prisoners, I don't know much about him. But I know that
he is in the jail hospital and he has many legal books and that he is
always reading," said the jail's chief superintendent M C
Vishvanathaiah.

Sources say the hearing of the case will begin shortly.

--
Anand S.
Coordinator, Anti Corruption Forum
Bangalore 560 085.
Cell No. +91-92410-12730