Journalism of Courage
A local court today permitted the CID to conduct DNA and voice tests on former Karnataka minister H Halappa,arrested on charges of rape and criminal intimidation.
Judicial Magistrate Ravikanth allowed an application from CID,probing the case,seeking permission to draw blood samples from Halappa to conduct the DNA test and subject him to voice analysis.
However,the magistrate later suspended the order till May 24 after Halappa’s counsel Ravi Naik prayed for time to file an appeal in the high court against it.
The bail application of Halappa,under judicial custody,is likely to come up before the high court on May 24.
Halappa,undergoing treatment for ‘lung infection’ at a hospital here,is facing allegations of rape by his friend Venkatesh Murthy’s wife Chandravathi.
He had quit as Food and Civil Supplies Minister on May 2 in the wake of the allegation and was arrested on May 9.
He has been hospitalised since his arrest.
