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September 23, 2025
In the complex arena of Karnataka’s most critical investigations, B.K. Singh stands as a towering figure, both revered and quietly feared. A 1996-batch Indian Police Service officer, Singh has ascended to Additional Director General of Police in the Criminal Investigation Department, where he spearheads probes that unravel webs of power, bias, and crime. Appointed in December 2023 after a central services tenure, Singh’s career is defined by forensic rigor and unyielding determination. From the murders of outspoken intellectuals to scandals toppling political dynasties, his Special Investigation Teams have secured convictions that resonate far beyond Bengaluru. Now leading the SIT into the Aland voter deletion scandal, Singh’s investigative record reveals a relentless officer who excels in the toughest battles.The Gauri Lankesh Murder: Unmasking an Ideological ConspiracySingh’s reputation as a precision-driven investigator solidified in 2017 with one of India’s most shocking media assassinations. On September 5, 2017, journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh, a vocal critic of right-wing extremism, was shot dead outside her Bengaluru home by helmeted attackers on a motorcycle. Two bullets struck her chest; one hit her forehead. The killing sparked nationwide protests, condemned as an attack on press freedom and rational thought.The Karnataka government formed a 21-member SIT under Singh, then Inspector General of Police for Intelligence, with Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) M.N. Anucheth as the investigating officer. Singh’s team viewed the murder as part of a broader pattern, linking it to the killings of rationalists Narendra Dabholkar (2013) and Govind Pansare (2015). Ballistic analysis confirmed the same 7.65 mm country-made pistol was used in all three murders, pointing to a coordinated Hindu extremist network.Despite initial hurdles, Singh’s SIT employed innovative tactics, including gait analysis to identify the shooter from blurry CCTV footage near Lankesh’s gate. Though the helmet hid the face, the assailant’s distinctive walk gave him away. By 2018, arrests followed: Gunrunner K.T. Naveen provided leads to right-wing radicals. Over time, 18 suspects, including hitman Ganesh Miskin tied to the Sanatan Sanstha, were apprehended. A 1,500-page chargesheet in 2019 outlined a plot driven by Lankesh’s advocacy for a “superstition-free society,” labeled as demonic in extremist texts.The case remains in trial, but Singh’s reliance on scientific evidence—DNA, digital trails, and ballistics—has made it robust against challenges. He once stated, “My idea is to rely less on human witnesses and more on science,” a principle that shapes his approach. Early doubts about his impartiality faded as convictions in related cases mounted.The M.M. Kalburgi Killing: Reviving a Cold Case for JusticeOn August 30, 2015, renowned Kannada scholar M.M. Kalburgi, a 77-year-old rationalist and Sahitya Akademi awardee, was shot three times in his Dharwad home. His critiques of superstition and idol worship, rooted in his Lingayat scholarship, had enraged hardline Hindu groups. His wife, Umadevi, saw the fleeing gunmen, but initial local and CID probes stalled without arrests or clear motives.In 2018, the Supreme Court handed Kalburgi’s case to Singh’s Gauri Lankesh SIT. Singh’s team identified parallels: Both Lankesh and Kalburgi had challenged superstition at Bengaluru events, drawing the wrath of the same Sanatan Sanstha-linked cabal. Ballistics tied Kalburgi’s murder to the same pistol used in the Dabholkar and Pansare killings.By 2019, Singh’s SIT charged seven suspects, including mastermind Amol Kale and shooter Ganesh Miskin, tracing a plot sparked by Kalburgi’s 2014 speech. Evidence included reconnaissance of his home, stolen bikes, and training in Dakshina Kannada. Umadevi’s descriptions fueled suspect sketches, though two key figures remain at large. By 2022, five more suspects appeared in Dharwad court, including Maharashtra fugitives, following Umadevi’s Supreme Court push for speed. Singh’s work exposed a “rationalist hit list,” transforming a dead-end case into a stand against ideological violence, though the trial continues.The Prajwal Revanna Scandal: Dismantling a Dynasty’s Dark LegacyIn 2024, Singh faced a monumental challenge with the sex scandal involving former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, grandson of ex-Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. Just before the Lok Sabha polls, over 2,900 explicit videos emerged in Hassan, allegedly depicting Prajwal assaulting nearly 100 women—domestic workers, relatives, and voters—over years. Four victims initially filed complaints, leading to three rape and one harassment FIRs.On April 28, 2024, the Karnataka government tasked Singh’s CID SIT, structured as a virtual police station, with the case. Led by female officers Shobha, Sumana, and Mamatha, Singh overcame obstacles like dated evidence and political pressure. In a 14-month sprint, his team used gait analysis to match Prajwal to faceless videos, DNA from a victim’s clothing, and mobile tower data to map the crimes. A 1,632-page chargesheet with 113 witnesses clinched the KR Nagar rape case. On August 2, 2025, a special court sentenced Prajwal to life imprisonment under IPC Sections 376(2)(k) and (n), with ₹11.25 lakh awarded to a 48-year-old low-caste farmhand survivor, raped twice and filmed.Singh lauded her “rock-like” courage despite sabotage attempts. The verdict’s speed opened floodgates, with a helpline (6360938947) drawing more survivors for new FIRs. Prajwal now works as a prison library clerk, his legacy in ruins.The Suraj Revanna and Munirathna Probes: Broadening the Fight Against ImpunityIn June 2024, Singh oversaw the CID’s probe into Suraj Revanna, Prajwal’s brother and a JD(S) MLC, accused of sexually assaulting a male party worker. Though separate from the Prajwal SIT, Singh guided the investigation into extortion and abuse links, alongside a case involving a 17-year-old’s assault, showcasing his multi-pronged approach.By September 2024, Singh led a new SIT targeting R.R. Nagar BJP MLA Munirathna, accused in three FIRs of rape, orchestrating honey-traps with HIV-positive women, blackmail, casteist abuse, and extortion. A social worker alleged repeated assaults and coerced HIV transmission; another claimed gang rape facilitation. Formed on September 21, 2024, Singh’s SIT absorbed all related cases. Munirathna’s custody ended with bail on October 5, 2024, but a November 2024 chargesheet nailed him for honey-trapping and abuses. A May 2025 gang-rape FIR was closed in September 2025 for lack of evidence, sparking Munirathna’s conspiracy claims, yet the core rape case persists, driven by DNA and digital evidence.A Legacy Forged in FireB.K. Singh’s record—Gauri and Kalburgi against ideological murder, Prajwal and Suraj for dynastic predation, Munirathna for political corruption—marks him as a foe of privilege. His SITs, empowered under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, harness cyber forensics, gait analysis, and witness protection. Prajwal’s conviction has empowered survivors; ongoing trials like Lankesh’s fuel his resolve.As Singh tackles the Aland voter deletion probe, chasing digital ghosts in forged ECI app filings, he stands poised to expose electoral sabotage. With tremors shaking Delhi, Singh remains steadfast: Science trumps show, truth outweighs loyalty. In Karnataka’s turbulent terrain, he is the unwavering force illuminating every shadow.
