The Central Investigation Bureau confirmed that the drowning was the cause of death five years after the body of a 19-year-old, Paresh Mesta was discovered during rioting in the Karnataka town of Honnavar, according to The News Minute.
On December 6, 2017, Paresh Mesta had vanished. Two days later, his body was found in a lake in Honnavur.
The state police disputed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s accusation that Muslims tortured and murdered Mesta, which was made when the party was in opposition.
A BJP-organized protest demonstration against Mesta’s murder had turned violent on December 12, 2017, when protesters threw rocks and set a police car on fire. In the event, at least seven police officers suffered injuries.
The matter was handed over to the Central Investigation Bureau by the government, which was governed by the Congress, a day later. Five Muslim teenagers were subsequently detained by the agency in the case, according to PTI.
The Central Investigation Bureau declared on Monday that there was insufficient evidence to establish Mesta’s murder.
“During the investigation, no incriminating evidence has emerged showing the involvement of accused persons,” an unidentified CBI officer said, according to The News Minute. “Accordingly, a Final Report [closure report] is being filed before the jurisdictional court.”
According to The Indian Express, an unnamed police official said that the complaint was sent to a magistrate in Honnavar. The officer stated that it will be discussed on November 14th.
In the meantime, Siddaramaiah said that the Central Investigation Bureau’s report was an insult to the BJP.
CBI has, in its report, stated that Paresh Mesta's death was accidental & was not due to murder. This report is a slap on the face of @BJP4Karnataka.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) October 3, 2022
If BJP has any shame left, it should apologise for its slanderous campaign.
“Karnataka BJP took unhealthy and unethical political advantage from the deaths of the innocent youth,” Siddaramaiah wrote in a tweet. “If BJP has any shame left, it should apologise for its slanderous campaign.”
Source: The News Minute, Indian Express, Scroll
