Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Apr 29: The second additional district and sessions court on Friday April 29 rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Yuva Brigade leader Naresh Shenoy, one of the key suspects absconding in the murder of RTI activist Vinayak Baliga.
Baliga was hacked to death on March 21 near his house in Kodialbail, soon after which Naresh Shenoy went missing. The police even searched his house and also issued a lookout notice. Amidst speculations that he might have gone abroad, Shenoy applied for anticipatory bail. The Mangaluru police had objected to the plea.
Reacting to the development, Prof Narendra Nayak, president of Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations, who had been in the forefront of fight for justice in the case, said, "The murder took place on March 21 and the accused has been absconding since March 25. Though he has been able to file an application for anticipatory bail through his lawyer, the bungling, corrupt police of Mangaluru have been unable to apprehend either him or the co-accused Srikanth who has been at large since then.
"If he had got anticipatory bail, it could have come to pass that one could mastermind a murder, lie low for some days and then get anticipatory bail. Once out on it, the criminals could threaten witnesses, destroy evidence, all with the kind co-operation of the corrupt elements of the Mangaluru police. The very nature of their investigation, the shoddy way some were 'fixed' into the case make a strong case for having been 'fixed' by the master brains behind the murder of Baliga. It has also been rumoured that in order to protect one of such, evidence has been also manipulated," Prof Nayak alleged.
"While the aged parents of Baliga and his unmarried sisters shed their silent tears in helplessness, those who are behind the crime are busy manipulating things to mislead the trial. The very fact that the accused Naresh Shenoy has been able to evade arrest shows the inefficiency of the Mangaluru police. Or is it that there are invisible hands behind pulling strings to make them infructuous?" he questioned.
"All law abiding citizens of Mangaluru are today apprehensive of taking up any cases or complaints against the rich and powerful sections of the society whatever grave injustice they may do. The conduct of the authorities supports this. The accused are now trying to knock at the doors of the higher courts to try for anticipatory bail and keep themselves away from the supposedly long arms of the law.
He also informed that there would be a protest march on May 2 at 3.30 pm from the spot where Baliga was murdered to the police commissioner's office, via Kodialbail, Vitoba temple road, Temple square and Bhavanthi street. A memorandum will be submitted to the police commissioner. "We expect citizens to turn out in large numbers to join us and show that we demand justice for Vinayak Baliga," Prof Nayak said.