Gauri Lankesh case: Sanatan Sanstha denies SIT's allegations

The Sanatan Sanstha on Tuesday rubbished the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) allegations in connection with Gauri Lankesh murder case.

The Hindu right-wing group also vehemently denied the SIT's allegation that the book 'Kshatradharma Sadhana' published by the Sanatan Sanstha inspired the journalist's killing.

Sanatan Sanstha spokesperson Chetan Rajhans said, "Will the CBI and Karnataka SIT, which are ridiculously claiming that Gauri Lankesh was killed by reading some holy text of Sanatan Sanstha dare to explain which holy texts are read by Jihadis who are spreading terrorism in the entire world, before committing such horrendous crimes?"

Rajhans said that the efforts made by the SIT "reflects how low the investigating agencies can stoop to implicate Sanatan Santha."

"SIT displayed illegal behaviour by unlawfully arresting innocent devout Hindus, persecuting them inhumanely and denying them the judicial assistance. Similarly, a false information was spread that the accused were in possession of a 'hitlist'. When nothing came out of it, one of accused in the case, Parashuram Waghmore was lured with Rs 25 lakh if agreed to name Sanatan Sanstha," alleged Rajhans.

He further questioned, "If SIT claims that Gauri Lankesh was killed by reading holy text of Sanatan, will they explain on which holy texts jihadi terrorism and Naxalism are based for killing lakhs of people?"

The SIT, probing the killing of Gauri Lankesh, on November 24 named Sanatan Sanstha in its additional charge sheet filed before a city court. The SIT also said that the 18 accused in the case are active members of an organised crime syndicate.

According to the SIT, the members of the syndicate strictly followed the guidelines and principles mentioned in the book 'Kshatradharma Sadhana'.

Gauri Lankesh, a senior journalist was murdered in her residence in Bengaluru on September 5 last year.