Bangalore Riots: Karnataka High Court directs police to trace and arrest former Mayor Sampath Raj

The Karnataka High Court, on November 13, directed the police to take all possible steps to trace and arrest former Mayor of the city, Sampath Raj, in connection with the Bangalore riots that took place on August 11..A Division Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Vishwajith Shetty passed this direction after it was informed that Raj, against whom a non-bailable warrant has been issued, is on the run. .The court further directed the investigating officer to submit in sealed envelope by the next date of hearing, a report detailing the steps taken to trace the accused..The court is hearing petitions seeking transfer of the probe into the incident to National Investigation Agency or any other Central investigation agency.During an earlier hearing, two matters related to the riots were transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA)..On August 11, a mob of around 300 people had gathered near DJ Halli Police Station in East Bangalore, protesting against an allegedly derogatory Facebook comment on Prophet Mohammed posted by one P Naveen, nephew of Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy. Eventually clashes broke out between the mob and the police leading to the death of three persons in police firing. Many policemen and journalists were also injured..Raj, who is a sitting Congress Corporator, has been accused of instigating the mob. .During the hearing on Friday, the court was informed of the infrastructure and facilities that were provided to the Claims Commissioner, Justice HS Kempanna. .Bangalore Riots: Karnataka HC appoints former judge Justice HS Kempanna as Claims Commissioner to estimate property damage.While going through the same, the court noted that the vehicle furnished to Justice Kempanna was outsourced via a contractor. ."The Claims Commissioner, who is a retired Judge of the High Court, cannot be at the mercy of a contractor", the court remarked asking why a State car was not provided to the Claims Commissioner. .The court proceeded to note that the judgment writer assisting the Commissioner was a contractual staff and suggested that a retired court official would be most suited, considering the sensitive nature of the matter at hand. ."We have serious doubts whether staff on contractual basis can be appointed,"opined the Bench. .The case will be heard next on November 23.