Overview
- Karnataka DGP M A Saleem ordered four FIRs from Ballari’s Brucepet police station moved to the state CID for further investigation with immediate effect.
- The cases stem from January 1 confrontations over a Valmiki statue banner outside BJP MLA G Janardhan Reddy’s residence that escalated into gunfire, killing 28-year-old Congress worker Rajashekhar Reddy.
- Police arrested bodyguard Gursharan Singh, seen firing in videos, and have taken at least 26 people into custody, with some reports putting the total at 35.
- Investigators have invoked the Arms Act and sent five privately held firearms seized from political security staff for forensic examination.
- BJP leaders have sought a CBI or judicial probe while Home Minister G. Parameshwara backs a state-led inquiry, and authorities have suspended the Ballari SP and postponed the statue installation event.