Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Aug 11: Referring to the murder of businessman Bhaskar Shetty as the 'rarest of the rare', Shantaram Shetty, the lawyer of Bhaskar's mother Gulabi, on Thursday August 11 said that the murder seemed to be pre-meditated and accused the police of botching up the probe right from the beginning.

Addressing a press meet convened by the Buntara Sangha here, Shantaram Shetty said, "This is a heinous crime that was committed in a barbaric manner and falls under the category of rarest of the rare murders. This case is similar to the Tandoor murder case of 1995, where Naina Sahni was killed by Sushil Sharma and her body burnt in a tandoor (clay oven).

"At least in this case, the police have been able to recover some bones. But nothing definite can be said till the forensic report is out. This murder seems to be pre-meditated and planned well in advance. It seems as if the culprits were waiting for SP Annamalai to leave the district," he said.

Commenting on the attitude of the police in the case, Shetty said, "Bhaskar Shetty's mother Gulabi had gone to Manipal station on July 28 to file a missing complaint. Even though Bhaskar was missing siince July 27, till the evening of July 28 the police did not accept the complaint. They accepted it only after instructions were issued from additional SP Vishnuwardhan.

"Manipal circle inspector S V Girish suggested Gulabi to file only a missing complaint even though she had gone there to file a complaint alleging kidnapping," he said, adding, "This is the worst FIR I have seen in in my life. It has been written in a bad way so as to favour the accused. The FIR is only for namesake. The police themselves have destroyed the evidence, but still there is a lot of evidence to be discovered, like the weapons used for the murder. Looking at the various chain of events, like Niranjan being taken into custody initially and then released, and again held after the arrest of Rajeshwari and Navaneeth, it seems that an attempt has been made to close the case," he alleged.

"On May 8, Bhaskar Shetty came down to Udupi from Saudi and had warned his wife about her affair with Niranjan Bhat. He had also said that he would not give her any share in his property and was also contemplating divorce. He had also said that even if she left him, he would not give her any share and would write the will in someone's name. All of this happened on May 8," he said.

Coming to the murder, he said, "The murder was executed on July 28 at around 4 pm. The culprits sprayed chilly into his eyes and forced him to consume poison. His hands and legs were tied and he was taken to Nandalike, and by then he had already lost his life.

"This is a tough case and it should have been handed over to the DySP or ASP rank officer in the beginning itself. Instead of this, the circle inspector handled the case. If police do such things, then how can the victims expect justice to be done?

"We have to keep in mind that the investigation will not fail, and even if the forensic report states that the bones were not of Bhaskar, the accused will be given at least a few years of sentence. But if it is proven that they were indeed his bones, life imprisonment is for sure.

"But looking at this case, along with the three main accused, there seems to be a fourth person involved, who could be a relative or someone from outside, and just as Niranjan Bhat's father has been arrested, it could even be his driver.

"But unfortunately the police have damaged the evidence till now and also delayed the investigation. Even to till now, they have not been able to get basic information like account details, call records and location details. There is a clue behind every crime, and there are lot of evidences yet to be discovered. The police have to keep in mind that gathering evidence is the first step and filing the complaint and the subsequent procedures are just a part of the investigation," Shetty said.

Asked if he was satisfied with the new investigation officer, ASP Sumana of Karkala, he said, "We demand the government to appoint SP Annamalai as the special investigation officer in this case and we have also told the same to district in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj. This case is not as tough as it looks and chargesheet can be filed, but the delay by the police is weakening the case. If the accused get bail, the investigation will come to an abrupt end.

"We urge the government to carry out the investigation by appointing honest officers," he added.

Bhaskar's brother-in-law Chandrashekar Shetty, Udupi Bunts Association president Jayakar Shetty Indrali, Bhaskar Shetty's mother Gulabi, businessmen Manohar Shetty and Purushotham Shetty, lawyer Shashikant Shetty, president of Mumbai Bunts Association Prabhakar Shetty, and Andaru Deviprasad Shetty were present.

On the Murder Trail:

• Udupi: Niranjan's father produced in court, cops try to evade media in vain
• Udupi: Investigation into Bhaskar Shetty murder case gains momentum
• Udupi: Will ask home minister to depute SP Annamalai in Bhaskar case: Madhwaraj
• Udupi: Bhaskar murder - Police arrest Niranjan's father; find bones in Palli river
• Udupi: Will he, won't he? Hegde says no decision yet on representing Rajeshwari
• Udupi: Opposites attract? Rajeshwari-Niranjan - Dissimilar traits, similar fates
• Udupi : Slow progress in Bhaskar Shetty murder - Investigation officer replaced ?
• Udupi: Bhaskar's kin urge fair probe, Bunt community flays lawyer Ratnakar Hegde
• Udupi: Niranjan Bhat attempts suicide in Manipal police station
• Udupi: Stony-faced and stylish, slain Bhaskar's wife, son baffle onlookers
• Udupi: Bhaskar Shetty murder - Son Navaneeth was fond of crime serials
• Udupi: Bhaskar Shetty murder - Niranjan Bhat arrested, taken to Nandalike
• Udupi : Niranjan Bhat's love for luxurious life and Bhaskar Shetty murder case
• Udupi: Bhaskar Shetty murder - As cops hunt for Niranjan Bhat, wife's affair angle emerges
• Udupi: Missing hotelier Bhaskar Shetty murdered, body burnt to ashes
• Udupi: Hotelier Bhaskar Shetty goes missing, mother says kidnapped