The State government is mulling over the possibility of handing over the investigation of the Ballari firing incident that claimed the life of a Congress worker to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).“If necessary, the government would hand over the case to the CID. I will discuss the issue with the Chief Minister [Siddaramaiah] before deciding on it,” Home Minister G. Parameshwara told presspersons here on Sunday.It may be noted that Congress worker Rajashekhar Reddy was killed after he suffered bullet wounds during a clash near the residence of former Minister and BJP Ganagavati MLA G. Janardhana Reddy on January 1. The clash erupted over putting up a banner ahead of Valmiki Jayanti in Ballari town between supporters of Mr. Janaradhana Reddy and Ballari Congress legislator Nara Bharath Reddy. The deceased was a supporter of Mr. Bharath Reddy.The Home Minister said that firearms in private possession had been seized and ballistic experts were examining it. “Based on the bullet recovered, the police have already said that the bullet was not fired from a police firearm. It looks like the bullet was fired from a private firearm,” he said.On the allegations of Mr. Janardhana Reddy that private arms and petrol bombs were used to attempt to kill him, he said that the police would investigate all these aspects as part of their investigation.When his reaction was sought on Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s remarks that violence had returned to Ballari after the return of Mr. Janardhana Reddy to the district, the Home Minister said, “I am not sure if it was a coincidence or not. Till he returned to Ballari there was no violence. Soon after his return, violence has taken place. We will investigate.”Incidentally, Mr. Janardhana Reddy returned to Ballari after 14 years since courts had barred him from entering Ballari over a slew of cases connected to illegal iron ore mining.SP in BengaluruRegarding the well-being of Superintendent of Police Pavan Nejjur, who has now been suspended, Mr. Parameshwara said, “I was informed that he is in Bengaluru. He was mentally disturbed following suspension and on his way to Bengaluru he had taken rest at the farmhouse of a friend. Naturally he was upset that he had been suspended.”On the possibility of the case being handed over to the CID, Mr. Shivakumar said that the Home Minister and Chief Minister would take a call on it.Published - January 04, 2026 07:59 pm IST