Kundapur: Fifth Arrest in Adiga Case - Relative of Absconding Ramesh Bayari
Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur
Update
Kundapur, Jan 17: The Udupi District Crime Intelligence Bureau (DCIB) on Thursday January 17 seemed to have tightened its grip on the sensational murder case of RTI actvist Vasudeva Adiga, with some vital information coming to light following the arrest of five persons including four contract killers.
Vasudeva Adiga
All five are said to be residents of Adugodi near Banashankari in Bangalore, from where they were arrested on Wednesday January 16.
Soon after the recovery of Adiga's body at a pond in Kadur, the police caught the trail of the killers and found out the mobile phone network and number used at the spot by them. Using mobile phone trackers, the police learnt that the same mobile number had also been used at the spot from where Adiga was kidnapped (near Goliangadi). The number was then traced to Adugodi and the five persons were arrested on Wednesday and brought to Gangolli on Thursday. The same evening, they were shifted to Udupi crime branch police station.
As stated before, among the five, four are professional contract killers. The fifth person arrested is said to be Subramanya Udupa, who is the brother-in-law of Ramesh Bayari, Adiga's neighbour and another suspect in the case. Subramanya Udupa is an astrologer by profession, and based at Wilson Garden, Banashakankari.
Adiga and Bayari were involved in a land dispute for the last 20 years. The court had passed its verdict in Adiga's favour. However, Bayari reportedly continued to occupy the land, and Adiga too continued to fight him through legal means. For this reason, police strongly suspect that Bayari might have used his brother-in-law to hire the killers and pay them Rs 25 lac. Moreover, police have also come across certain hints that some people who were troubled by the RTI had reportedly given financial assistance to Bayari.
Meanwhile, Bayari has been absconding for the past four-five days and police have launched a search operation for him. Sources said that there are possibilities of Bayari's arrest on Thursday night itself. Police have also expressed confidence of arresting locals who have helped him. It is expected that all the arrested will be taken to the crime spot on Friday January 18 for further investigation.
Kundapur DySP Yashoda Shirabur, Udupi DCIB inspector Praveen Nayak, Mahesh Prasad of special investigation team, Kundapur circle inspector Manjunath Kavari, Gangolli sub-inspector Sampath Kumar, Shankarnarayana SI Dejappa, Kota SI Ashok and other police officials are carrying out the investigations.
Earlier Report
Kundapur: Adiga Murder - Two More Detained, Contract Killers Brought to Gangolli
Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur
Kundapur, Jan 17: Close on the heels of the arrest of four contract killers in the murder case of RTI activist Vasudeva Adiga, the police have detained two persons in connection with the case.
As reported earlier, four contract killers were arrested from Adugodi near Bangalore. They had been reportedly paid Rs 25 lac by three persons to murder Adiga.
Now, the police have detained two others, also from Bangalore. Identities of all the suspects have been kept under wraps.
Also, reliable sources have told Daijiworld that all the six including the four contract killers have been brought to Gangolli police station for further investigations.
Highly-placed sources from Bangalore have revealed to Daijiworld that some of the politicians are suspected to have a hand in the murder.
Vasudeva Adiga, who was also a Congress member, was allegedly kidnapped on January 7 near Goliangadi. His body was found on January 12 in a pond at Kadur, Chikmagalur. It was suspected that professional killers were behind the act.
More details awaited.