Bengaluru, Dec. 21 -- Krishnarajapuram MLA and senior BJP leader Byrathi Basavaraju is reportedly absconding, police said on Saturday, a day after the state high court cancelled his anticipatory bail plea in connection with the murder of repeat offender Shivaprakash alias Biklu Shiva on July 15.

Investigating officers said that Basavaraju's last known location was tracked to Pune in Maharashtra, and his mobile phone was switched off since the court verdict.

The MLA's disappearance coincided with the end of the winter assembly session in Belagavi on Friday. A team from the criminal investigation department (CID) on Saturday reportedly conducted searches at the address in Belagavi where he was staying during the session..

"Initial inputs...