Gauri Lankesh Murder Accused: Grand Welcome in Vijayapura After Bail

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

After receiving bail from a Bengaluru court, Gauri Lankesh murder accused Parashuram Waghmore and Manohar Yadave were given a grand welcome by supporters in Vijayapura.
The accused, who spent six years in jail, were freed on October 11, greeted with garlands and prayers at a local temple.
Pro-Hindu leaders stated that the real culprits are still free, while these men were imprisoned unjustly due to their pro-Hindu stance.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

In a significant turn of events, two men accused in the murder of activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh—Parashuram Waghmore and Manohar Yadave—were granted bail by a special court in Bengaluru on October 9. The duo, who had been behind bars for six years, were finally released from Parappana Agrahara prison on October 11, and they received a grand hero’s welcome from pro-Hindu supporters upon their return to their hometown of Vijayapura.

The pro-Hindu groups greeted the two with garlands, orange shawls, and celebratory chants. Waghmore and Yadave then paid homage to a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji and offered prayers at the Kalika temple, as part of the symbolic welcome.

Supporters and leaders of the pro-Hindu groups claim that Waghmore and Yadave were wrongfully imprisoned and that the real perpetrators of Gauri Lankesh’s murder have not yet been identified. Speaking to the media, a prominent leader said, “Today, on Vijayadasami, we proudly welcome these two men who have been unjustly jailed for six years. The real criminals are still at large, but these pro-Hindu workers were targeted simply due to their affiliations.”

Along with Waghmore and Yadave, six other accused, including Amol Kale, Rajesh D Bangera, Vasudev Suryawanshi, Rushikesh Devadekar, Ganesh Miskin, and Amith Ramachandra Baddi, were also granted bail, as reported by LiveLaw.

Gauri Lankesh, a senior journalist known for her staunch criticism of extremist Hindutva ideologies, was shot dead outside her home in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017. The murder caused widespread outrage and condemnation across the country.

In December 2023, Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered the establishment of a special court to expedite the trial of the accused in the Gauri Lankesh murder case.