Pramod Madhwaraj assures impartial inquiry in Bhaskar Shetty Murder case
Udupi: Pramod Madhwaraj district in-charge minister and state fisheries and sports and youth affairs minister has promised a detailed and impartial inquiry in Hotelier Bhaskar Shetty’s murder case and take stern action against the officers trying to divert the case.
He was speaking after receiving the memorandum from the Bunts association and Gulabi Shetty mother of Bhaskar Shetty at Ammanni Ramanna Shetty Auditorium Udupi here on August 10.
Minister Madhwaraj said, “When Bhaskar Shetty was missing, the family members had approached me in my office. I had directed SP Annamalai to start the search operation. On August 3, Annamalai was transferred to Chikkamagaluru and ASP Vishnuvardhan took charge as Additional SP. On August 7, Bhaskar Shetty’s murder news appeared in the media and I personally instructed ASP Vishnuvardhan to conduct a proper investigation. Today I came to know from the Bunt community leaders that the Investigation officer was giving royal treatment to the accused. I saw the video footage, in which the accused was seated in the Police vehicle in the investigation officers’ place during the time of producing to the court. I have taken this matter very seriously and have sent that video to the Western Range IGP Arun Chakravarthy and asked for clarification”.
He said he would also talk to the home minister and the DGP to look into the various possibilities aiding impartial inquiry. One option would be to get the former SP Annamalai to investigate the matter.
He has also instructed the investigating team to look into the money trailing through the deceased’s bank account. The new SP is taking charge on Thursday and he would talk to him to form a new team to investigate the matter, he said.
Further, the minister said, “After complaints from many people ASP Vishnuvaradhan was replaced with Investigation officer Girish CPI Manipal and have also appointed a brilliant young IPS officer Dr Sumana ASP Karkala as the new Investigation officer. Many sensational things are expected to come out in the investigation as the district in-charge minister I promise a detailed and impartial probe in this case. If necessary, we are ready to refer this case to the COD”.
Ajith Kumar Rai president Akhila Bharatha Bunta Samudaya read out the memorandum. Jayakar Shetty Indrali president Bunts Association Udupi presided over the meeting.
Later all the protesters took out a vehicle rally to the DC office Manipal and the SP office and submitted a memorandum to DC Venkatesh and ASP Vishnuvardhan.
Raghupathi Bhat former MLA, Appanna Hegde former MLA, Fr William Martis, Meenakshi Madhava Bannaje president CMC, Rohith Kumar Kateel, Sukumar Shetty, Uday Kumar Shetty, Janani Divakar Shetty, Ravi Shetty and others were present.