Ballari, Jan 3: The Karnataka Police have registered FIRs against BJP MLA and mining baron Janardhana Reddy and Congress MLA Nara Bharat Reddy on Saturday in connection with the violence that erupted over a banner-related issue, which resulted in the death of a grand old party worker in Ballari.

Police have intensified the investigation to ascertain who fired the bullet that killed Congress worker Rajashekar.

An FIR has been registered against several people, including MLA Bharat Reddy, in connection with the death of Rajashekar.

The FIR was lodged at the Bruce Pet Police Station in Ballari, and the investigation is currently underway.

The FIR names several individuals, including Ballari city MLA Nara Bharat Reddy’s close associate Satish Reddy, Chanal Shekhar, Nara Pratap Reddy and Nara Suryanarayana Reddy. The FIR was registered based on complaints filed by MLA Janardhana Reddy and BJP worker Nagaraj.

MLA Janardhana Reddy filed a complaint alleging assault and attempt to murder against several persons, including MLA Bharat Reddy.

In a separate complaint, BJP worker Nagaraj alleged trespass, caste-based abuse, attempt to murder and rioting. BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra was also present when the complaints were filed.

Investigations have indicated that the bullet that struck Rajashekar was a 12 mm single-bore bullet fired from a single-barreled gun.

Police sources revealed that four gunmen connected to Satish Reddy, a close associate of MLA Bharat Reddy, are currently absconding.

Police stated that shots were fired during the violence, and one gunman was seen firing at the residence of Janardhana Reddy.

Supporters of Bharat Reddy told the police that shots were fired after Janardhana Reddy’s supporters allegedly indulged in intense stone-pelting towards Satish Reddy.

Meanwhile, another bullet shell was seized from Janardhana Reddy’s residence.

Inspector General of Police Varthika Katiyar visited Ballari on Saturday and inspected the security arrangements. The city has since returned to normalcy.

Responding to questions regarding who fired at the Congress worker, she said the investigation is ongoing to ascertain the facts.

Meanwhile, Housing and Waqf Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan, who is also the District In-charge Minister for Ballari, is visiting the city. He is scheduled to meet the family members of Rajashekar.

Sources said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the party high command have taken serious note of the developments and instructed Congress MLA Bharat Reddy to exercise restraint.

Bharat Reddy’s aggressive statements against Janardhana Reddy had embarrassed the Congress.

The government’s decision to suspend Ballari Superintendent of Police Pavan Nejjur has triggered a debate, as the officer was suspended within hours of assuming charge.

Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil said the officer was suspended for failing to visit the spot during the violence. “It was important that he visited the spot, even if he had taken charge just 30 minutes earlier,” he said.

Mira-Bhayandar, Jan 02: The Kashigaon Police Crime Detection Team has arrested three accused involved in a house burglary case and recovered stolen gold ornaments, cash and burglary tools.

According to the police, the incident took place on the morning of December 30, 2025, when the complainant, Shraddha Anil Shelar, a homemaker and resident of Hatkesh, Kashigaon, had locked her house and gone to Ramdev Park, Mira Road, along with her husband Anil Shelar to file nomination papers for the Ward No. 13 municipal councillor election.

When the couple returned home around 1.30 pm, they found the main door broken and household articles scattered. On checking the iron cupboard, it was discovered that gold ornaments weighing about 43 grams, including a gold chain, bracelet, earrings, nose ring and pendant worth approximately ₹2.16 lakh, along with ₹20,000 in cash, had been stolen.

Based on the complaint, Kashigaon Police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for theft and house-breaking.

During the course of investigation, the police tracked down the accused and arrested them from Bhayandar Railway Station while they were attempting to flee to another state.

The arrested accused have been identified as Irfan Yusuf Khan (25), Sagar Dilip Soni (23) and Ajay Vijay Torne (19), all residents of the Mira Road area. One of the accused is originally from Nepal, police said.

Police have recovered the stolen gold ornaments, cash and the tools used for committing the burglary from the accused. Further investigation revealed that accused Irfan and Sagar have prior criminal records, with theft and house-breaking cases registered against them at Nayanagar, Navghar and Mira Road police stations, and had previously served jail sentences.

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 2: The BJP on Friday intensified its attack on the Congress over the Sabarimala gold theft case, asserting that the controversy cannot be resolved without a probe by central agencies and alleging that the Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi, has serious questions to answer.

Former BJP state president K. Surendran said the ongoing state-level investigation would not bring out the truth and was being structured to protect politically influential individuals.

Surendran recalled that the Kerala High Court had, at the very outset, expressed suspicion over the possible involvement of notorious idol-smuggling syndicates.

He said subsequent disclosures by Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and senior legislator Ramesh Chennithala lent credibility to concerns that the stolen gold and artefacts may have entered the international antiquities market.

“What was stolen is invaluable. This is not a local crime but an international idol-smuggling racket,” Surendran said.

The BJP leader placed particular emphasis on what he termed the Congress angle, referring to a photograph of Sonia Gandhi with prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti that surfaced during the course of the investigation.

Surendran said there was initially no reason for suspicion, as such interactions could appear routine. However, he accused senior Congress leaders, including Chennithala and Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, of gradually retreating from their initial positions once the issue gained public traction.

“Why did they step back? Why is there no clear explanation?” he asked.

Criticising Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s remarks on Sonia Gandhi as “political manoeuvring,” Surendran demanded clarity on who introduced the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti to the Congress leadership.

He further alleged that individuals with close familial links to Sonia Gandhi in Italy are involved in the marketing of antiquities, arguing that this alleged international dimension warrants a thorough investigation by central agencies.

Surendran claimed that Chennithala may not have fully grasped the implications initially but later “entangled himself” by making partial disclosures.

“If he has information, why is he not standing firmly by it?” he asked, accusing the Congress of evasiveness and selective silence.

In a sarcastic remark, Surendran said that if the prevailing narrative is that CPI(M) leaders stole the gold, it may have to be amended to suggest that the Congress facilitated its sale.

“The Congress has an equal stake in this case and will not walk away unscathed,” he said.

Surendran also named former Travancore Devaswom Board member K.P. Shankardas as a key figure who, he alleged, enjoys high-level protection and has so far escaped scrutiny.

He claimed that arrests of prominent individuals took place only under strict court directives and criticised changes made to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) after the questioning of former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, alleging that officers sympathetic to the CPI (M) were subsequently inducted.

All these factors, he said, underline the urgent need for a comprehensive investigation by central agencies.