Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, May 20: Although the murder of Vinayak Baliga, (51) an RTI activist who was hacked to death in the early morning of March 21 at PVS Kala Kunj Road, Kodialbail, has completed two months, the city police have arrested four suspects out of which two were said to be supari killer hired for murder, the key suspect Naresh Shenoy is still at large.

According to the highly placed sources in the police department, it is reportedly said that Naresh Shenoy the prime suspect in Vinayaka Baliga's murder is said to be hiding in a village in Uttar Pradesh under the protection of right wing leaders. It is also learnt that Naresh Shenoy is frequently shifting his base from one village to other to escape from the clutches of the law.


According to some reliable sources, all four arrested accused have confessed Naresh Shenoy's name as the prime accused. Heavy political pressure has been reportedly placed on the state home minister as well as city police commissioner from the central government. But, sources say that, city police commissioner had refused to budge for any pressure from the state or central as he is committed to provide justice to the victim Baliga.


Naresh Shenoy had earlier applied for the anticipatory bail on Friday April 29 in the II additional and sessions judge court in the city but his bail plea was rejected by the court. Presently he is also making an effort to obtain anticipatory bail from the High Court of Karnataka. Sources close him say that, he is using every possible efforts to get the ball through High Court. If not successful, he will wait and hide until he can get it from the Supreme Court.

Naresh Shenoy

Naresh Shenoy who was considered as one of potential BJP candidates from Mangaluru constituency for next assembly election has suffered major setback after his disappearance. He was the founder of NaMo brigade, through which he rose to fame not only in the region, but the state. He had played significant role in Nalin Kumar's election during last Lok Sabha. Later NaMo brigade was renamed as Yuva Brigade.

If at all he does not have any role in the murder, he would have co-operated to the investigation. Even after Baliga's murder, Shenoy was very much in city, but soon after the first arrest, he escaped from city. It is said that, first accused had disclosed the Naresh Shenoy's name.

It is interesting to learn that, one of the accused arrested was personal driver of highly influential senior BJP leader from city.

It will be interesting to see whether Naresh Shenoy's influence through central government save him or real justice will be done to Baliga family. A senior lawyer speaking to daijiworld said that, state government as well as Congress party leaders in city have not been taking any interest in pressurising the investigation as the party does not want to hurt a particular community. BJP is not bothered in any way to protest as it will dent its own image in the region.

If Naresh Shenoy manages to remain at large for a longer period, and non-political and social activists continue to put pressure on the issue, it could become an election issue for sure in the future.

Daijiworld follow-up

• Mangaluru: Vinayaka Baliga murder case-One more suspect arrested 
• Mangaluru: Vinayaka Baliga's sister demands to know, who are evil powers 
• Rationalist Prof Narendra Nayak gets life threat, lodges police complaint 
• Mangaluru: Police commissioner warns about irresponsible reporting 
• Vinayak Baliga murder - Vedike scoffs at efforts to tarnish GSB image 
• Mangaluru: RTI Activist Vinayak P Baliga murder - One questioned 
• Solidarity march held demanding justice in Vinayak Baliga murder case
• Mangaluru: Baliga murder - Court rejects Naresh Shenoy's anticipatory bail plea 
• Mangaluru: A month after Baliga's murder, questions still loom large 
• Vinayak Baliga murder - bail application hearing of Naresh Shenoy postponed
• Mangaluru: Vinayak Baliga murder case - another accused in police net
  Mangaluru: BJP leaders directly involved in Baliga's murder, alleges Mithun Rai
• Mangaluru: Home minister has asked cops to go slow on Baliga murder probe, alleges Prof Nayak
• Mangaluru: Lookout notice issued at airports to nab Naresh Shenoy
• Mangaluru: Naresh Shenoy may have fled to Dubai: Baliga's father
• Mangaluru: Hunt for suspects in Baliga murder - Police teams off to Goa, Andaman
• Mangaluru: RTI activist's murder - Yuva Brigade leader Naresh Shenoy prime suspect?
• Mangaluru: Baliga murder - Police raid Yuva Brigade leader Naresh Shenoy's house
• Mangaluru: Baliga murder - Police seek public help in nabbing two suspects
• Mangaluru: Silence over Baliga's murder questioned, fingers pointed at temple
• Khader visits Baliga's family, assures speedy, strict action
• Mangaluru: Baliga murder - Time for RTI activists to unite against corrupt
• Mangaluru: Baliga murder - Supari killers held, police chief assures to nab plotters
• Mangaluru: Baliga murder - Prof Narendra Nayak speaks out; concerned citizen writes to CM
• RTI activist Baliga's murder - A rude shock to Mangaluru
• Mangaluru: 51-year-old RTI activist murdered at Kodialbail