New Indian Express

TUMKUR, March 25: A team of police officials from the town on Friday, have left for Mangalore as part of investigations into the case of fake-petrol mafia reportedly giving ‘supari’ to a Mangalorean to get Tumkur BJP MLA S Shivanna killed. The case came into light Thursday last.

Shivanna, according to his complaint to police, had received a phone call from a henchman of one Dunzan - a resident of Kaup in Mangalore on Thursday around 11.40 AM.

The man had called up Shivanna on his mobile from an STD booth (08132 222533) at Agrahara village near Kunigal on Mangalore-Bangalore Highway, the complaint mentioned.

The caller disclosed the names of the persons from Tumkur who had allegedly offered Rs 15 lakh to his boss Dunzan, and had also clarified that his boss was not interested in the deal.

He had also shown sympathy to the MLA and advised him to be cautious in future, the complaint said.

STD-booth owner questioned: Meanwhile, the police questioned the STD-booth owner Shivanna and Mahadevu on Friday.

When this website's newspaper contacted Mahadevu, he clarified that he was away when the the call was made from his booth. His aged father Shivanna is running a small hotel besides looking after the booth.

‘‘We are innocent. But after the police have visited our shop, the neighbours started looking at us suspiciously,’’ he said.

Security for MLA: Superintendent of Police P. Harisekaran told this website's newspaper that two armed constables had been deployed for MLA’s security. Town Dy SP K M Arifullah had been made investigation officer, he said.

When contacted over the phone, Shivanna confirmed the complaint verbatim.

Followers in shock: Shocked followers and relatives of the MLA who had gathered at his office on Friday said the police should take up investigation urgently.

The facts should be disclosed and the persons behind the incident should be questioned, MLA’s relatives told reporters.