Karnataka minister Roshan Baig has lodged a defamation case against BJP leader Shoba Karandlaje over her statement that he was the brain behind RSS activist Rudresh’s murder. 

Baig is an MLA from the Shivajinagar constituency, which is also the area where RSS activist lived.

Baig told The News Minute that not only has he has been affected as a politician, but his family too was bearing the brunt of the allegations.

Shoba made the statement on November 5, a day after the Bengaluru district president of PFI Asim Sheriff was arrested in connection with Rudresh’s murder. Four men were arrested on October 27. 

The BJP leader accused the Information and Broadcast Minister for allegedly hiring contract killers to “eliminate” Rudresh, whose rising popularity had disturbed the minister. 

“Police and intelligence officials are speaking about Baig’s involvement in the killing of Rudresh. We have also run the government and have contacts in the police and the state intelligence. They have told us that there is credible evidence of Baig’s involvement,” the BJP MP was quoted saying by Deccan Herald.

The same article quoted Baig as saying that he knew Rudresh well and that he was a good man. “He was neither my political opponent nor had he tried to vilify me. His death saddened me,” he had said.

Shoba Karandlaje went on to demand a CBI or NIA enquiry into the murder case and also demanded Baig's resignation. 

“Police are under pressure to go slow on the investigation,” she told DH. 

The Udupi-Chikkamgalur MP's statements, reportedly backed by BJP state general secretary CT Ravi and former BJP MLC Go Madhusudan, was made based on the "general public opinion in Shivajinagar" the report says.