Gauri Lankesh’s Brother to Demand CBI Probe, Sister Disagrees

The Special Investigation Team is yet to make a breakthrough in the case.

The politics around the assassination of activist and journalist Gauri Lankesh has taken a new turn on her 56th birth anniversary. The younger brother of Gauri, Indrajit Lankesh, on Monday announced that he would approach the Karnataka High Court demanding an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into Gauri’s murder.

Bengaluru-based journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh was killed after unidentified men shot at her from close range outside her residence in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, late on 5 September. Apart from releasing the sketches of two suspects, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the case has not made any headway so far.

While talking at the burial ground in Chamrajpet, Indrajit alleged that the investigation authorised by the Siddaramaiah government is taking a political shade and that he was not satisfied with the investigation.

“The only thing I want is for (the police) to catch murderers of my sister Gauri Lankesh. It has been five months since the investigation started and they have not made any progress. From whatever progress we have seen through the media, it seems like it is taking a political direction. This is the reason on Gauri’s birthday, I will be approaching the Karnataka High Court for a CBI enquiry,” said Indrajith Lankesh.

Interestingly, the SIT had probed Indrajit for allegedly pulling a gun on Gauri and angrily asking her to leave the premises of the journal offices, a few years ago. However, the SIT ruled out a family angle to the murder few weeks later.

Asking CBI Probe is Not Family’s Decision: Gauri’s Sister

Hours after the announcement, Gauri’s sister Kavita Lankesh announced that it was not the family’s decision to go for an CBI enquiry and added that they want the SIT to continue the probe. “This is not the family’s decision, but his own, and our family is not patriarchal, where the son gets to make the decision on behalf of the family. He has not been in touch with the investigating officers and he is unaware of the progress the SIT has made so far,” said Kavita.

She further added that the family wants the investigation to be continued by the SIT. “The CBI has more than 13 unsolved cases with them. So how is it going to help the case? We have been in touch with the SIT and we have been informed about the progress in the case. If he wants to protest the government for the delay in the investigation, we will also be with him, but we don’t want a CBI enquiry yet,” she said.