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Gauri Lankesh Murder Case: Timeline of Investigation, Trial

Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her Bengaluru home on 5 September 2017. A Karnataka SIT charged 18 people, alleging an organised conspiracy. The trial bega…

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5 SEP 2017

Shot Dead at Her Gate

Journalist Gauri Lankesh, 55, was shot at about 8 pm. The gunman fled with an accomplice on a motorcycle.

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6 SEP 2017

An SIT Is Formed

The state set up a Special Investigation Team under IGP B.K. Singh a day after the murder.

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SEP 2017

The Kalburgi Gun

Early analysis suggested the pistol had been used to kill scholar M.M. Kalburgi in 2015.

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2 MAR 2018

The First Arrest

Held in February in an ammunition case, he was arrested in the murder case in March.

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MAY-JUL 2018

Alleged Plotters Held

The SIT arrested the men it calls the coordinator, the shooter and the motorcycle rider.

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THE INVESTIGATION

From No Leads to 18 Accused

Arrests and chargesheets.

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23 NOV 2018

A 9,235-Page Chargesheet

The SIT alleged an organised network planned the killing and had other targets.

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THE SIT'S CASE

Alleged Roles, Not Findings

Who is accused of what.

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FOUR KILLINGS

Linked by Forensics

Dabholkar, Pansare, Kalburgi, Lankesh.

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OCT 2021

Charges Framed

After the Supreme Court restored organised-crime charges, 17 accused were charged. All pleaded not guilty.

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4 JUL 2022

The Trial Begins

Almost five years after the murder, the prosecution began examining witnesses.

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20 AUG 2024

Supreme Court on Bail

The court refused to cancel Nayak's bail and ordered the trial to move fast.

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JAN 2025

All 17 on Bail

The last accused in custody was bailed on parity. One more accused is absconding.

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BAIL

How All 17 Came Out

Delay, then parity.

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MAY 2025

A Witness Turns Hostile

He denied his 2018 statement about arms-training camps in court.

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16 JAN 2026

Accused Wins Election

Shrikant Pangarkar, on bail, won a municipal ward as an independent by 184 votes.

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OCT 2026

The Eighth Judge

Judges keep being elevated. Hegde took charge on 5 October and held his first hearing on 8 October.

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THE TRIAL

Eight Judges, One Case

Who presided, and when.

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WHERE IT STANDS

Established and Not

As of 7 November 2026.

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NOV 2026

Still No Verdict

Nine years on, no court has decided who killed Gauri Lankesh.

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