Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has upheld the Centre’s decision to entrust investigation in RSS worker Rudresh’s murder case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Rudresh was murdered on Kamaraja Road in Shivajinagar on October 16, 2016.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had filed an appeal against the order of single bench which set aside the Union government’s direction dated February 7, 2016 issued to the NIA. While allowing the appeal filed by the Union government, a division bench of Justice H G Ramesh and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar set aside the single bench order.

On November 5, 2016, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, KR Puram, Bengaluru, moved an application before the 43rd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bengaluru, with a prayer to include the provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. It is stated in the said application that the leaders of PFI organisation were targeting Hindu leaders and indulging in criminal activities such as murder, attempt to murder and striking terror among general public in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru and other cities in the state. During investigation, it transpired that the petitioners had committed offences under UA Act.

The then city police commissioner had conveyed the same to the NIA on November 24, 2016, the court narrated the contents of the FIR.The high court also dismissed the writ petitions filed by the accused seeking to quash the order permitting the police to invoke provisions of UA Act by the magistrate and the Home Ministry’s order on NIA probe.