Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Sep 14: Relating to the murder of veteran journalist, Gauri Lankesh, officials of special investigation team (SIT) recorded statements of mother Indira, sister Kavita, and brother, Indrajit Lankesh, on Wednesday September 13. SIT sources said that there were some exchange of words when Indrajit expressed his reluctance to provide details relating to a fight he had with Gauri a few years back about which she had filed police complaint.

A few years back, Gauri had filed complaint against brother Indrajit about having been threatened by him by pointing a pistol at her. When SIT officials questioned Indrajit about this incident, initially Indrajit refused to provide details, it is said. He later told them that he had sold that pistol and has lost the sale receipt.

Lankesh family - File photo

The SIT officials had fixed Wednesday for questioning the family members as protest programme had been held on Tuesday and the family was in deep grief earlier. Indira and Kavita were given the discretion to fix the venue of questioning, and on Wednesday, statements were recorded at Lankesh Patrike office at Basavanagudi. Indira and Kavita remained peaceful and recorded statements over a period of four hours, and provided all details including property sharing, Gauri's struggles, lifestyle, profession, and private life. Statement about death threats faced by Gauri was also obtained.

In 2006, Gauri had registered a complaint in Basavanagudi police station claiming that Indrajit had pointed a pistol at her and posed death threat to her. Indrajit, in a counter complaint, had alleged that Gauri had connections with Naxals. After a year, both had withdrawn their complaints.

When the questioning session was in progress on Wednesday, Indrajit arrived there and objected to certain contents in the statements made by his mother and sister, it is said. This gave rise to an environment of confusion for sometime, officials stated. Although Indrajit was scheduled to record statement on Thursday, he came when his mother's statement was being recorded. When statement about death threats was being recorded, Indrajit pressurized officials to remove names of certain organizations and some other material from the statement. But the officials told him that they can erase objectionable contents only if his mother asks them to do so. Indrajit also shouted at his mother at this juncture after which both shed tears, it is gathered.

When the investigating officials asked Indrajit to produce the pistol he possessed then and copy of the licence, Indajit got angry and questioned the necessity of digging out an old case. He said that his relationship with elder sister Gauri was cordial since then and there is no connection with that incident and the present one. When officials insisted on production of the pistol he said he had sold it. When officials wanted him to produce the receipt, he said it was lost. It is learnt that he did not properly reply to a few questions.