On September 28, 2026, RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat spoke to journalists in Bantwal, rejecting a police notice that connects him to the murder of Rahman and asserting that the document will not intimidate him.
Bhat confirmed a telephone conversation with accused Bharath Kumdelu but denied urging any violence. “I have more than 110 cases against me. What difference does this case make? The police notice is nothing to me,” he said, emphasizing that the call was protected by constitutional freedom of expression.
The leader questioned the necessity of his appearance for interrogation, urging law enforcement to act on legal merit rather than on instructions from political leaders. He added that the police possess a recording of the call and should review its content before drawing conclusions.
Regarding Bharath Kumdelu’s arrest, Bhat alleged that the Goonda Act and other charges have been filed against individuals with no link to the murder. He claimed the accused’s family faced hardships and that even those assisting them were booked in separate cases.
On the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to revisit the 14‑year‑old Sowjanya case, Bhat welcomed the move but expressed reservations about the selected officers. He praised Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy for his professionalism while urging the inclusion of more officials of similar repute to boost public confidence.
Bhat urged the SIT to uncover the truth, citing the court’s earlier observations about the involvement of Santosh Rao and previous investigators. He reiterated that the spirit of Sowjanya has waited for justice for fourteen years and that the investigation must remain independent of external pressures.
During the BC Road Chalo protest, Gurupura Vajradehi Mutt seer Rajshekharananda Swamiji backed Bhat, condemning the use of the Goonda Act as a tool to hinder Bharath Kumdelu’s bail and calling for a protest rather than blessings.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Mangalore Today