Daijiworld Media Network -Udupi (HB/EP)

Udupi, Sep 19: Accused Rajeshwari, Navaneet, Srinivas Bhat and Raghavendra were produced in the court here on Monday September 19 with regard to Bhaskar Shetty murder case. The court has ordered for their judicial custody till October 3 except of Navaneet.

The public prosecutor had submitted a petition to the court requesting Criminal Investigation Department (CID) custody for 5 days for Navaneet. A separate court hearing was held for it.

Advocate Arun Bangera arguing in favour of the accused said that Navaneet is suffering from asthma. He objected to repeated police questioning saying that it may adversely affect his physical and mental health.

Rajeshwari with son Navaneet

Bangera said that an accused is usually granted fifteen days of police custody after the arrest. “Now that the case is delayed, there is no meaning in taking the accused in custody,” he argued.

After listening to the arguments from the lawyers of both sides, the judge decided to hand him over to CID for two days.

Objection for making accused travel in bus

Objections were raised in the court for making accused Rajeshwari to travel in police vehicle from Mangaluru to Padubidri and then to Udupi court by bus. The judge said that it was not fair to send the accused in bus due to security reasons. “There is threat to the lives of accused. There should be no violation of human rights until the crime is proven in the court. Their safety is the responsibility of the court. Therefore the accused should be brought in police vehicle,” ordered the judge. 

Another accused Niranjan Bhat was produced in court later in the evening separately. His CID custody was extended by another two days.