City police are now considering handing over the Bagalur shooting case to the Corps of Detectives (CoD). 

City police commissioner Shankar M Bidari told MiD DAY that the accused was highly influential and they did not want to take any chances. "We are waiting for the order of the director general of police, who is now busy with Dasara celebrations," Bidari said.

Govardhan, a film producer and real estate tycoon owning more than 200 acres in and around Bangalore, has developed LG Township and a couple of other townships in and around Devanahalli. He has reportedly gifted sites to many police officers, and even sold some at throwaway prices to politicians and influential people.

"That is why police helped Govardhan to escape after the killing," allege family members of Vinod Kumar, who was shot down by Govardhan.

Reacting to the allegation, Bidari said that he did not want his men to earn a  bad reputation and thus wanted the case to be handed over to the CoD.

Deputy commissioner of police (northeast) Basavaraj Malagatti, who is supervising the investigations, said Govardhan would soon be nabbed. "We have some definite information about his whereabouts and we are working on it," he said. As a precautionary measure, police have alerted all airports and even issued circulars to prevent him from leaving the country.

Background

Murthy shot down budding actor Vinod Kumar early on  Tuesday at his resort, LG Heritage, on BIAL Road.

According to police, a quarrel between Shankar Reddy and Govardhan over a trivial issue led to the latter's security guards firing in the air. Hearing the gunshots, Vinod Kumar rushed to Shankar Reddy's rescue and questioned Govardhan's high handedness.

An enraged Govardhan pulled out a pistol, shot two rounds and fled the scene with his guards, leaving Vinod in a pool of blood.