Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Feb 4: The city crime branch (CCB) police led by inspector Valentine D'Souza on Wednesday February 4 arrested the main accused in the murder of BJP activist and businessman Keshava Shetty.
The accused, identified as Satish alias Sachu alias Satish Soorinje (30), a resident of Katipalla, is an associate of underworld don Vicky Shetty, police said.
Keshava Shetty (35) was murdered at Janatabettu, Soorinje near Kinnigoli under Suratkal police station limits on the morning of January 6. The accused had chased and hacked Keshava to death when he had come to play badminton at the ground.
Five persons had been arrested in the case but the prime accused had gone absconding. Lithesh Shetty, Shobi alias Shobhraj, Yuvaraj alias Appu, Krishna and Bharat, who assisted in carryng out the crime were arrested three days after the murder, and are presently under judicial custody.
Based on credible information about his whereabouts, the CCB police arrested Satish near Talapady bus stop under Ullal police station limits.
Satish has eight police cases against him. In 2010, he was accused in attempting to murder a youth from another community at Shibaroor, in 2012, he was charged in the murder case of Manikanta at Suratkal, in 2013 he had threatened a jail inmate in Madikeri, in 2013 he was accused of issuing death threat in Khadgeshwari, and the same year, he was accused in the shootout at Ballalbagh where an attempt was made on the life of businessman Vijayendra Bhat, acting on the directions of Vicky Shetty.
In 2014, he had issued a threat to BJP activist Keshava Shetty over hafta. He is also allegedly involved in the murder of Bharatesh, who was an accused in the murder of Ravi Poojary aide Bejai Raja.
Satish has been handed over to Suratkal police station for further investigation.
The operation was conducted under the directions of police commissioner S Murugan, guided by DCP Santosh Babu, and led by CCB inspector Valentine D'Souza.