Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Aug 24: Udupi superintendent of police Hariram Shankar said Hemanth Poojary may have played a role in the murder of businessman David D’Souza, while clarifying that the actual mastermind behind the killing is yet to be established.
Businessman David D’Souza was murdered at Mudarangadi in Kaup on August 7. According to the investigation, the killing was allegedly planned following a dispute over a high-value contract project related to the Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) desalination pipeline.
Addressing the media, SP Hariram Shankar said the police initially arrested three accused — Raju, a native of Uttar Pradesh, Anmol Rasthogi from Maharashtra and Jiyaul Sheikh from Bihar. During Raju’s arrest, he allegedly attempted to escape and was shot in the leg by the police.
During the investigation and interrogation of the arrested accused, police found indications that the murder was linked to financial dealings. Investigators examined two to three suspected financial transactions and subsequently scrutinised the bank accounts of the three arrested accused.
“During the investigation, we found some suspicious transactions. This led us to accused Chirag Poojary and Mohammed Irshad,” SP Hariram Shankar said.
Police subsequently questioned Chirag Poojary, Mohammed Irshad and Ananda Devadiga. During the inquiry, investigators allegedly learnt that the money required for the transactions had been arranged by Kishore Rama Poojary.
According to SP Hariram Shankar, Kishore Poojary was involved in contract work and had sought a contract for a high-value UPCL desalination pipeline project. However, he allegedly did not receive the project, resulting in resentment between Kishore and David D’Souza.
The investigation also revealed that a call was allegedly made in the name of Hemanth Poojary, who was known to David D’Souza and some UPCL officials. The caller reportedly sought the project on Kishore’s behalf, but the request was not accepted.
“Based on our investigation, the person who made the call identifying himself as Hemanth Poojary appears to have played a role in coordinating the murder along with Kishore Poojary,” Hariram Shankar said.
Police also identified Lokesh Teja Kotari, a resident of Byndoor, as the person who allegedly provided the two motorcycles used in the murder, the SP said.
SP Hariram Shankar added that Suraj Kumar was arrested before Anuj Patel in connection with the case. The Udupi district police coordinated with police departments in several states during the investigation, as several of the accused reportedly have criminal cases registered against them in different states.
However, police have not yet established the identity of the actual mastermind behind the murder.
“The real mastermind behind this case is yet to be established. It may or may not be Hemanth Poojary,” the SP said, indicating that the investigation is continuing to determine who ultimately orchestrated the killing.