Justice Vishwajit Shetty of the Karnataka High Court has recused himself from hearing the anticipatory bail pleas of a realtor and an advocate accused in the contract killing of Bengaluru gym trainer Vijay Kumar, stating he did not want to be 'part of these dirty things.'
- Justice Vishwajit Shetty of the Karnataka HC recused himself from the Bengaluru gym trainer murder case bail hearing.
- The accused include a prominent realtor and an advocate who allegedly orchestrated a Rs 25-lakh contract killing ('supari').
- The victim, gym trainer Vijay Kumar, was murdered over an alleged relationship with the realtor's daughter.
A judge of the Karnataka High Court has recused himself from hearing anticipatory bail petitions filed by a real estate businessman and an advocate in a shocking case of contract killing. The case involves the murder of 35-year-old Bengaluru gym trainer Vijay Kumar, who allegedly had a relationship with the realtor’s daughter.
Justice Vishwajit Shetty recused himself from the case on Monday, uttering the words "not before me" when the anticipatory bail pleas of realtor K Prasad Rao and advocate B Lokesh came up for hearing. In a scathing remark, the judge commented that he did not want to be "part of these dirty things," highlighting the grim nature of the allegations surrounding the legal professional and the businessman.
The Rs 25-Lakh 'Supari' Plot
Vijay Kumar’s decomposed body was discovered in the dense Bannerghatta forest area on the outskirts of Bengaluru on June 9, three days after he went missing on June 6. Subsequent police investigations unraveled a chilling conspiracy. It was revealed that Kumar was lured to a drinking party and murdered by a gang allegedly hired by the advocate at the behest of the wealthy realtor.
The hit squad was led by a notorious local gangster identified as Sriram, who happened to be a client of the accused advocate, B Lokesh. Lokesh allegedly received a whopping sum of Rs 25 lakh from the realtor to orchestrate the contract killing, aimed at permanently ending the relationship between the married gym trainer and the realtor's young daughter.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that the direct involvement of an officer of the court in a heinous contract killing severely damages public trust in the legal system. When individuals sworn to uphold the law leverage their criminal networks to execute street-style justice, it threatens the very fabric of constitutional order. The high court's refusal to entertain these pleas sends a powerful message against institutional degradation.
"When officers of the court become facilitators of heinous crimes, it strikes at the very foundation of the legal system, necessitating swift and exemplary action."
Court Setbacks and CID Investigation
Earlier, a sessions court in the Bengaluru rural district rejected the duo's anticipatory bail petitions. The court noted that the advocate had gone missing, with his phone switched off, immediately after the police arrested four individuals on June 17. However, Call Detail Records (CDR) proved he was in constant communication with the hitmen before, during, and after the murder.
"A practising advocate involved in murder cases is against his advocacy. An advocate should always work to reform society," the sessions court had sternly remarked on July 22 while rejecting the bail. The case was later transferred to the Crime Investigation Department (CID) on June 29 after the realtor's wife alleged on social media that her husband was being falsely framed. However, deep forensic and circumstantial evidence gathered by the CID continues to point directly to the realtor and the advocate.
| Accused Name | Alleged Role in Conspiracy | Current Legal Status |
|---|---|---|
| K Prasad Rao (Realtor) | Financed the Rs 25-lakh contract killing ('supari') | Absconding; Anticipatory bail rejected |
| B Lokesh (Advocate) | Received the money and hired gangster Sriram to execute the murder | Absconding; HC petition rejected, bail denied |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Why did the Karnataka High Court judge recuse himself from the case?
Justice Vishwajit Shetty recused himself expressing deep distaste for the corrupt and criminal nature of the conspiracy, stating he did not want to be "part of these dirty things."
2. Who executed the actual murder of gym trainer Vijay Kumar?
The murder was executed by a local gang led by Sriram, a client of the accused advocate B Lokesh, after being paid a Rs 25-lakh 'supari' funded by realtor K Prasad Rao.
