Karnataka home minister: Good job by our cops, ready to hand over gelatin probe to NIA

Bengaluru: Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara Tuesday said the state govt was ready to hand over the gelatin probe to NIA, which is seeking details of the investigation.

Stating the Karnataka police did a “good job” by finding gelatin sticks ahead of the PM’s visit to Bengaluru on Sunday morning, he said the case is under investigation and didn’t want to share details of the progress of the probe. “If NIA wants to join the probe, then our reply will be in the affirmative. Let them investigate the case,” he added.

He brushed aside queries on any terror angle to the case, saying investigations were still on.

A special investigation team comprising 50 personnel, including four inspectors, has been formed to probe the incident. Police are trying to determine the origin of the gelatin sticks, how they reached the location, and whether there is any connection between the threat call and the recovery.

BJP leader B Sriramulu demanded a probe by NIA, calling the incident a serious security lapse.

Suspect not cooperating: Cops

Lohith alias Lohith Krishnappa, 42, from Koramangala 8th Block arrested for making a hoax call during the PM’s visit, is not cooperating with investigations, police said.

Police said Lohith made a hoax call from a mobile phone to the police control room on Sunday morning claiming blasts would be carried out at HAL Airport and the Art of Living Foundation — two venues of PM — and had sent threatening messages on WhatsApp.

Police have seized three mobile phones and a laptop from Lohith, who is in 10-day police custody, and sent them to the Forensic Science Laboratory to retrieve data.

Investigators said Lohith, from Tamil Nadu, travelled to Sulikere and other places in Tamil Nadu from May 8 to 10. They clarified that Lohith does not have a history of making threatening calls or messages. Lohith claimed he learnt about the PM’s visit from AOL devotees.