Ex-mayor’s PA key conspirator in east Bengaluru riots, says prosecution

BENGALURU: The personal aide of former mayor R Sampath Raj has been named one of the chief conspirators in the August 11 east Bengaluru violence in which four people were killed.
According to the prosecution, Arun Manoraj R had nurtured ill-will against Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivasamurthy and encouraged miscreants to target his residence in Kaval Byrasandra.
Considering the argument of the prosecution, a city civil and sessions court had denied bail to Manoraj on September 15.
Manoraj, a resident of KSFC Layout in Lingarajapuram, was arrested by Central Crime Branch (CCB) police on August 19. He is also a class-1 civil contractor and relative of Sampath Raj. So far, CCB has arrested 35 persons for attacking the MLA’s house.
“Manoraj is one of the chief conspirators who took advantage of a derogative Facebook post by the MLA’s nephew Naveen to achieve his ulterior motive. He conspired and motivated the other accused to commit the offences, and gave it a colour of mob violence,” special public prosecutor P Prasanna Kumar stated.
He claimed Manoraj was waiting for an opportunity to strike at the MLA. Abetted by Manoraj, miscreants armed with weapons attacked the house and took away 500 grams of gold ornaments, cash and property documents. They also set the house and several vehicles ablaze and caused losses to the tune of Rs 3 crore. The mob also attacked DJ Halli police station and burnt 586 vehicles, he pointed out.
Manoraj had deleted the call log and WhatsApp messages from his mobile phone, complicating the process of investigation. He had made an effort to destroy evidences, the prosecution argued.