Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Aug 14: Through a memorandum, Buntara Sangha has urged Rajya Sabha member, Oscar Fernandes, requesting him to use his good offices and prevail upon the concerned to ensure that the guilty are punished relating to entrepreneur, Bhaskar Shetty's murder case.

"Apparently, efforts to shield the culprits are on in Bhaskar Shetty murder case. Police department is behaving like puppets in the hands of people working from behind the scenes. The police, who are busy providing royal treatment to the accused, have totally neglected the distressed family of Shetty," Bunt community leaders said in the memorandum, urging Oscar to bring pressure on home ministry immediately and make them take legal steps against the guilty.

Office bearers of the district unit of Buntara Sangha here, and also members and dignitaries from the Bunt community, who submitted a written memorandum to Oscar Fernandes at Katapady on Saturday August 13, spoke to the MP and complained that the police personnel are guilty of undue delay in the issue of putting together vital evidences. They also told him that the accused have not been so far subjected to intensive interrogation. "There has been widespread resentment and suspicion among the general public about the attitude of police towards this case. The government should take this case with all the seriousness and ensure that the bereaved family of Shetty gets justice," the memorandum read.

The leaders urged Oscar to take stern steps against the first investigating officer in the case, Girish, and to undertake detailed investigation about the people who conspired to make this murder happen and book them.

Oscar Fernandes, speaking after receiving the memorandum, noted that this is not just a crime in his view. He felt that the very occurrence of such a heinous crime in his hometown has brought shame and disrepute to the town. He said he understands the pain and anguish the family is going through, and promised to personally speak to the home minister, and ask him to take all necessary steps to bring the guilty to book.

President of Udupi Buntara Sangha, Jayakar Shetty Indrali, district president of Bunatara Yane Nadavara Sangha, Dinakar Shetty Kurkal, advocate, Shantaram Shetty, leaders like Manohar Shetty, Padubidri Buntara Sangha president, Navinchandra Setty, Katapadi Buntara Sangha president, Vinay Ballal, Naveen Shetty Padubidri, Subhash Ballal, Ashok Shetty, brother of the deceased, Surendra, and relatives, Chandrashekhar Shetty and Ratnakar Shetty, were present.

Both Oscar Fernandes, and MP, Shobha Karandlaje, visited the house of Bhaskar Shetty's mother at Sarakarigudde, Katapady on Saturday and met his brothers and sisters. They assured the family members of doing everything possible to see that the guilty are not spared in the case. Shobha was accompanied by some BJP leaders and assured them that they are with the aggrieved at this time of crisis.

Oscar noted that prima facie it looks as if the family of the deceased has faced lot of injustice and that the case has not been handled in a proper manner. He said he would urge the home minister to give strict instructions to the police officers to conduct investigation in the right direction. The people at the spot requested Oscar to see that police officer, Girish, who allowed the investigation to go slack, is suspended, replacement of all the members of the investigating team with new ones, and issuance of directions top level polce officers to evince personal interest in the case.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee secretary, M A Gafoor, state BJP scretary, Tingale Vikramarjun Hegde, Shyamala Kunder, BJP district president, Mattar Ratnakar Hegde, general secretary, Suresh Nayak Kuilady, zilla panchayat member, Geetanjali Suvarna, leaders, Navinchandra J Shetty, Vinay Ballal, gram panchayat president, Juliet Veera D'Souza, Udayakumar Shetty, Nayana Ganesh, Veena Shetty, Kurkal Dinakar Shetty, and Subhas Ballal were among those present.

Appeal to arrest Rajeshwari's relatives

Gulabi Shedthi, in her written memorandum handed over to both the MPs, gave names of the brother-in-law of Rajeshwari and another as suspects, claiming that all these people had together killed her son in a planned manner. She alleged Rajeshwari's elder sister's husband, who is also named Bhaskar Shetty, and elder sister's son, Balakrishna Shetty, were involved with this murder.

She pointed out that their roles in the murder can be confirmed if mobile phones of arrested accused are seized and call details are verified. "It is learnt that on July 28, Rajeshwari and Navaneeth had withdrawn huge amount of cash from bank accounts. Police should investigate about this, and find out to whom this cash was disbursed," she requested.

Gulabi also requested them to hand over this investigation to either Corps of Detectives of an efficient police officer for makingsure that the guilty do not go scot free by making use of money power.

It is learnt through sources that Rajeshwari's brother-in-law Bhaskar Shetty was also involved in the slain Bhaskar's business, and had even held power of attorney till the latter found out misappropriation and revoked it.

Balakrishna Shetty, who has already been taken for enquiry by the police, was allegedly paid a huge sum of money through cheque by Rajeshwari soon after the murder, in order to secure bail and for other expenses in the event of her arrest.

Meanwhile, there are also suspicions of a powerful Bengaluru-based swamy who reportedly has close connections with a top minister trying to influence the case.

Complete coverage:

• Udupi: Shetty murder - blood-stained clothes of Niranjan, Rajeshwari found
• Udupi: Temporary Homakunda used for Shetty's murder - police custody for Niranjan
• Udupi: VIP treament to Shetty murder accused - Police defend meal at hotel
• Udupi: Exclusive - 'Bhaskar never confided in me', says mother Gulabi 
• Udupi: Rajeshwari, Navaneeth produced in court, police custody extended till Aug 16
• Udupi: Navaneeth was test tube baby, claims kin; another relative denies
• Udupi: Ear stud removed from Niranjan's intestine, police custody soon
• Udupi: Bhaskar murder 'rarest of rare', says lawyer, accuses cops of botching up probe
• Udupi: Niranjan's father produced in court, cops try to evade media in vain
• Udupi: Investigation into Bhaskar Shetty murder case gains momentum
• Udupi: Will ask home minister to depute SP Annamalai in Bhaskar case: Madhwaraj
• Udupi: Bhaskar murder - Police arrest Niranjan's father; find bones in Palli river
• Udupi: Will he, won't he? Hegde says no decision yet on representing Rajeshwari
• 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