Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM/SP)

Udupi, Sep 18: The criminal investigation department (CID) custody of Nandalike Niranjan Bhat (26), who has been accused of abetting the murder of NRI entrepreneur from the city, Bhaskar Shetty, was extended by two days on Saturday September 17.

It may be recalled that CID had taken him into custody on September 15 for two days after obtaining permission from the court. They applied for extension of custody on Saturday, and their request was partly granted.

CID investigating officer, deputy superintendent of police, H T Chandrashekhar, through the senior assistant public prosecutor,Praveen Kumar R N, sought extension of Bhat's CID custody by five days. Judge of the additional senior civil court and chief judicial magistrate, K Rajesh Karnam, before whom Niranjan Bhat was produced, took up the bail application for consideration. Advocate for the accused argued that Niranjan Bhat suffers from high blood sugar problem for which he was treated. He therefore urged the court not to extend his custody in the guise of investigation.

After hearing both the sides, the judge permitted extension of custody by only two days. The judge also instructed to subject Bhat to medical examination if he suffers from any health problems.

Advocate from Mangaluru, Vikram Hegde, had again filed bail application in the civil court on behalf of accused, Srinivas Bhat (56), father of Niranjan, and car driver, Raghavendra (25), who are facing charges of destroying evidence. The earlier bail application filed on behalf of these two had been dismissed. When their applications came up for consideration on Saturday, public prosecutor, Shanthi Bai, sought a week's time for filing objections. Upholding her request, the judge fixed September 24 as the date of hearing of this bail application.

Niranjan Bhat taken to Nandalike, interrogated

After obtaining his custody, CID sleuths, for the first time, led Niranjan Bhat to his home at Nandalike in the taluk. He was led to near the Homa Kunda where Sheltty's remains were allegedly burnt, and interrogated him there.

The CID team questioned Bhat at the site for over an hour, duly keeping away people who are not connected with the matter and also media persons. Bhat was also taken to the banks of Epedakyaru and Kuntady Kalkaru rivulets where the ashes remaining after burning the body of Bhaskar Shetty were reportedly discharged.

In the past, Manipal police had brought Niranjan Bhat to the rivulets for questioning on August 8. But because of anger of the people who had gathered at the spot and fear of Bhat facing the ire of the mob, he was taken back to Nandalike. It is not known how far this trip and interrogation were helpful.