The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday made significant arrests in a high-profile forgery case linked to the mysterious death of a Bengaluru-based realtor. Those taken into custody include D A Srinivas (son of former Andhra Pradesh MP D K Adikesavulu Naidu), his sister D A Kalpaja, and Karnataka Deputy Superintendent of Police S Y Mohan.
The Core Allegations and 2019 Death
The case revolves around the death of K Raghunath, a close associate of the former MP, on May 4, 2019. Raghunath was found dead at a guesthouse in Bengaluru's Whitefield area, which was reportedly owned by Srinivas. Crucially, several properties belonging to the former MP were said to be registered in Raghunath's name.
According to CBI FIRs registered in 2022 on the orders of the Karnataka High Court, the allegations are grave. Srinivas had allegedly summoned Raghunath to the guesthouse, where the realtor was held in illegal custody for two days before his death. Initially, the police were informed it was a suicide.
Charges and a Flawed Investigation
The central agency has charged the trio with a slew of serious offences, including:
- Criminal conspiracy
- Cheating
- Forgery of valuable security documents
- Forgery of government stamps and seals
- Destruction of evidence
- Creation of false evidence
The case reached the CBI after the family of the deceased lost faith in the initial probe. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed by the HAL police, but the Karnataka High Court rejected its report, stating the investigation was not conducted properly.
Family's Fight and Motive
Raghunath's wife, Manjula, and son, Rohith, had petitioned the high court for a CBI inquiry. They alleged that the accused had influenced the police to forge Naidu's will and suppress the postmortem report.
In her petition, Manjula also revealed a possible motive. She claimed Srinivas and Kalpaja believed Raghunath was responsible for a massive 2016 Income Tax raid on their family, which unearthed Rs 60 crore in cash and assets worth Rs 250 crore. Furthermore, Srinivas had allegedly pressured Raghunath to transfer Naidu's properties, which the realtor refused. These properties, including prime assets in Bengaluru like large apartments and Vydehi Hospital, are now held by Naidu's children and grandchildren.
The arrests mark a critical turn in a case that has seen allegations of a cover-up, police misconduct, and the tragic death of a man caught in a complex web of property and power.
