Bengaluru: The special investigation team (SIT) probing the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh suffered a major setback on Friday with the only arrested accused, K T Naveen Kumar, refusing to undergo a narco-analysis test after agreeing to it earlier.
Sources said when he was taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gujarat, Kumar threatened to commit suicide if he was subjected to the test. Now, the SIT will be bringing him back without subjecting him to the test.
Kumar, believed to have links with right-wing groups, was arrested by the SIT in March. As he was not cooperating with the investigations, the SIT had sought permission to subject him to a narco analysis. It even sought his consent in the presence of a magistrate, as it is mandatory. Accordingly, Kumar told the court that he had no issues if the test did not impact his health. The court had then ordered the test following which the SIT arranged for it at the FSL in Gujarat. Kumar was taken into custody on April 14 and was taken to the FSL.
