Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Mar 28: Four accused involved in the barbaric murder of an undertrial named Vinod Shettigar inside the district jail at Hiriyadka in the district on January 14, 2011, have been sentenced to life imprisonment. Earlier, District Chief and Session’s court judge Chandrashekhar M Joshi had held all the four accused in the case guilty of murder.

Six persons had been named as accused in this case. The convicted are Muttappa (36), Nagaraja Balegar (33) and Sheikh Riaz Ahmed (33) all from Baikady, Brahmavar, and Sharanappa Amarapur (33) from Agoli in Gangavathi who were found guilty.

Raghavendra (35) from Kukkikatte Indiranagar who was named as one of the accused, has been exonerated. The other accused, Pitty Nagesh, who was accused of planning the entire operation leading to the said murder, was killed sometime back.

The judge, who heard arguments and counter arguments and examined the witnesses besides verifying evidences, had concluded on Wednesday that the four persons named above were guilty of murdering Shettigar.

District public prosecutor Shanti Bai, had presented the case on behalf of the prosecution.

Earlier copy

Udupi: Murder of undertrial inside district jail - accused found guilty

Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Mar 28: The court here has concluded hearing relating to the barbaric murder of an undertrial named Vinod Shettigar inside the district jail at Hiriyadka in the district on January 14, 2011. Judge of the district chief and sessions court here, Chandrashekhar M Joshi, has held all the four accused in the case guilty of murder.

Six persons had been named as accused in this case. Out of them, Muttappa (36), Nagaraja Balegar (33) and Sheikh Riaz Ahmed (33) all from Baikady, Brahmavar, and Sharanappa Amarapur (33) from Agoli in Gangavathi have been found guilty. Raghavendra (35) from Kukkikatte Indiranagar here, who was named as one of the accused, has been exonerated. The other accused, Pitty Nagesh, who was accused of planning the entire operation leading to the said murder, was killed sometime back.

Vinod Shettigar

Murder inside jail

It is said that after Pitty Nagesh planned to eliminate Vinod Shettigar, a notorious rowdy-sheeter, and coaxed the other four accused who were jailed for various offences into becoming partners in crime. He reportedly offered money and bail if they executed the murder plan. Muttappa had appeared in Karkala court relating to hearing in a case in which he was named as accused in Karkala court on January 13, 2011. During this period, Raghavendra had hidden three knives inside the prison toilet located in the compound of the jail. Muttappa collected these knives, duly ensuring that no one noticed his act, and went into the jail.

Reason

It is said that Vinod Shettigar had earlier made a foiled bid to kill Pitty Nagesh. Therefore, Pitty Nagesh was nursing animosity against him. The four other accused who were in the jail used to face harassment and threats from Vinod Shettigar and therefore they too had a grouse against Shettigar, it is gathered.

A murder case in this connection was registered in Hiriyadka police station. The then police circle inspector at Brahmavar, Krishnamurthy, was the investigating officer for the case. He conducted investigation and filed charge sheet in the court. Out of 48 witnesses named in the charge sheet, 35 were examined. The judge who heard arguments and counter arguments and examined the witnesses besides verifying evidences, concluded that the four persons named above were guilty of murdering Shettigar. The quantum of punishment would be pronounced on Thursday March 28.

District public prosecutor, Shanti Bai, had presented the case on behalf of the prosecution.