KT Naveen Kumar, who was arrested for being an alleged gun-runner in the Gauri Lankesh murder case, will most likely be taken to Hyderabad on April 16 to undergo neuropsychological tests.
He is expected to undergo brain mapping and lie detector tests at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Ahmedabad. Naveen is currently lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru.
The 37-year-old Naveen Kumar, who is also the founder of the Hindu Yuva Sene, is said to have close links with Sanatan Sanstha - a right wing group which was under police scrutiny after the Gauri Lankesh murder.
The third Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court had given the go-ahead for the tests after the written consent of Naveen on March 12.
However, Naveen is reported to have retracted his consent for the tests, stating that the police had coerced him into giving the tests on the promise of getting him bail.
“We will conduct polygraph and brain electrical oscillations signature profiling (brain mapping) which will help our investigation,” an official said to The Hindu.
It is reported that Naveen’s lawyer, Veda Murthy, has sought permission to be present during the tests. “I’ve asked the Special Investigation Team to inform me of the dates and will approach the court for more clarity on this,” Veda said.
Kumar was earlier arrested on February 18 by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) for possession of illegal arms and was questioned by the SIT on March 3. He was charged with illegal possession of a firearm and fifteen .32 calibre bullets.
Police also claimed that Naveen Kumar was involved in the alleged plot to assassinate writer and rationalist KS Bhagavan.