Indian Express

MANGALORE, Jan 1: Two parlour owners were severely injured in a fisticuff on Friday in a live band parlour on the city’s outskirts at Bajpe.

According to the Bajpe police, an Aruna, who was sacked by the management, with the help of his associates Aswak, Munna, thrashed the parlour owners Naveen Rai and Prasad Rai. The Bajpe police have registered a case and are investigating.

ACQUITTED: Bhaskar, a resident of Sasihitlu and Vasant of Mukka accused in the murder of ‘Payal Live Band’ manager Govardhan Karkera were acquitted by the first division additional session court.

Govardhan (35), manager at the ‘Payal Live Band’ at Mukka, was allegedly murdered in the wee hours of January 8, 2005 by Bhaskar and Vasant Amin. The accused had come to the live band posing as customers. Following arguments on paying the bill, Bhaskar stabbed Govardhan as Vasant held him.

Though Karkera was rushed to a hospital in the city, he was declared dead. Then Suratkal inspector J S Gajendra Prasad began the investigation.

The case took a new twist when the police arrested the live band owner Venu Gopal for reportedly destroying evidences by washing blood stains on the floor of the verandah.

The court held that the prosecution had failed in establishing that the accused had murdered Govardhan and acquitted the accused.