Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/UM)

Udupi, Aug 10: Facing the heat over reports that he was the counsel for the accused in the sensational Bhakar Shetty murder case, lawyer Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde, who is also the president of the Udupi district BJP, on Wednesday August 10 said that he had not taken any decision on the matter yet, but stopped short of categorically denying such reports.

It may be recalled that on Tuesday August 9, the Bunt community had flayed Hegde for reportedly deciding to represent the slain Bhaskar's wife Rajeshwari and son Navaneeth in the case. The leaders had unanimously demanded that he withdraw from it.

Answering questions from media persons on the issue during a press meet at the BJP office here on Wednesday, Hegde neither denied nor admitted to have taken up the case on behalf of the accused.

"I do not want to use the party office to make personal statements. I have been the family lawyer of Bhaskar Shetty and helped him and his wife in a case. About four days before he went missing, Bhaskar had tried to meet me a few times, but as I was busy with a Mumbai-based client, I could not meet him. I was not aware of anything that was going on within the family," he said/

"I have not been approached to become the counsel for the mother and the son. Lawyers have to go by ethics and not by caste, community or gender. We have to always represent the truth and see that victims get justice," he said in response to a question on the demand by the Bunt community that he withdraw from the case.

Without categorically denying his involvement as counsel, he said, "Any lawyer can file bail application, but it does not mean the same lawyer has to represent the accused in the court also. The trial has not begun yet. Only then we will know who has taken up the case. In this case, I have not taken any decision yet."

On messages circulating in social media that being the BJP district president, he should not support the accused, Hegde said, "BJP has already clarified on the issue."

Complete coverage: 

• Udupi: Opposites attract? Rajeshwari-Niranjan - Dissimilar traits, similar fates
• Udupi : Slow progress in Bhaskar Shetty murder - Investigation officer replaced ?
• Udupi: Bhaskar's kin urge fair probe, Bunt community flays lawyer Ratnakar Hegde
• Udupi: Niranjan Bhat attempts suicide in Manipal police station
• Udupi: Stony-faced and stylish, slain Bhaskar's wife, son baffle onlookers
• Udupi: Bhaskar Shetty murder - Son Navaneeth was fond of crime serials
• Udupi: Bhaskar Shetty murder - Niranjan Bhat arrested, taken to Nandalike
• Udupi : Niranjan Bhat's love for luxurious life and Bhaskar Shetty murder case
• Udupi: Bhaskar Shetty murder - As cops hunt for Niranjan Bhat, wife's affair angle emerges
• Udupi: Missing hotelier Bhaskar Shetty murdered, body burnt to ashes
  
• Udupi: Hotelier Bhaskar Shetty goes missing, mother says kidnapped