Businessman Bhaskar Shetty murder: Accused attend court
Udupi: The hearing of the witnesses in the murder of businessman Bhaskar Shetty was began at the principal district and sessions court here on Monday with tight police security. All the three accused including Rajeshwari Shetty who were in Parappana Agrahara Jail in Bengaluru, were produced before the court during the hearing.
After day-long interrogation on July 6, the hearing was postponed to Monday. The hearing of then investigating officer and present Karwar ACB DySP SV Girish continued even today. Special public prosecutor Shantaram Shetty got the statements from Girish.
As the major hearing of Girish was completed monday, judge Venkatesh T Nayak allowed the cross examination of Girish on July 17. Advocates of the accused, Narayana Poojary, Arun Bangera and Vikram Hegde would continue their cross examination tomorrow. Sources said that in the beginning, Girish would be cross examined and if time permits, Bhaskar Shetty’s mother Gulabi Shedti would also be cross examined.
Accused produced before court
In the previous hearing the Judge ordered the police to produce the accused from the Parappana Agrahara jail before the court in the next hearing following a request from the advocates of the accused, all the three accused- Rajeshwari Shetty, Navaneeth Shetty and Niranjan Bhat were brought from Bengaluru Parappahana Agrahara jail on July 15 with tight police security and kept them at the Mangaluru jail. On Monday, they were brought to Udupi from Mangaluru jail and produced them before the court during hearing. At this time, accused in destroying witnesses Srinivas Bhat and Raghavendra were also present.
After the hearing, the accused were taken to the Mangalur jail. Till July 19, the accused would be taken from Mangaluru jail to Udupi court.
Journalists restricted
As the accused were producing before the court, the court complex was give police security and police restricted the journalists from entering the court hall. Metal detector was installed in the main entrance of the office of the principal district and sessions court judge in the first floor of the complex. Except the advocates, no others were allowed inside the court hall. Armed police were deputed outside and inside the court hall. Udupi ASP Kumarachandra, DySP Kumaraswamy and other police officers were present.
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Have no personal involvement in Cong’s action against some minority leaders: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said he has no personal involvement in action taken against certain Congress leaders from the minority community following allegations of an internal conspiracy during the recently held Davanagere South bypolls.
He clarified that the decisions were taken by the party high command based on available reports.
Asserting that party discipline is of utmost importance, Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, sought to downplay concerns that action against minority leaders may send the message that “Muslims are being targeted.”
“I don’t have any personal involvement in this. Whatever decisions are taken are made by the party leadership. The party has its own reports. Decisions regarding MLAs or MLCs cannot be taken at the state level without instructions from Delhi,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, he added, “People may blame me; I am not concerned. Everyone must function in accordance with party discipline.”
Responding to concerns within sections of the party that recent actions may convey the impression that minority leaders are being targeted, he said the Congress exists for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, backward classes, farmers, and all sections of society.
The Congress has suspended MLC K Abdul Jabbar from primary membership and relieved another MLC, Naseer Ahmed, from the post of Chief Minister’s political secretary.
The action followed allegations by a group of Muslim leaders that certain party members conspired to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
Following the action, speculation has emerged that Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan may also face disciplinary measures during the next cabinet reshuffle.
The three leaders had reportedly sought a Muslim candidate for the Davanagere South bypoll ticket, which the party instead allotted to the late MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s grandson, Samarth Mallikarjun.
They were also said to have not actively participated in the campaign.
Shivakumar also rejected claims of factionalism within the ruling party amid speculation that leaders close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were being targeted.
Naseer Ahmed and Zameer Ahmed Khan are considered close to the CM.
Rejecting allegations of factionalism within the party, Shivakumar said, “We speak to each other every day. It is the media that creates divisions. Where is my faction? Has anyone put up a board saying they belong to the Siddaramaiah faction? Have I put up any such board?”
“All 139 legislators are my people, and they are all Siddaramaiah’s people as well. Everyone belongs to the Congress,” he added, saying there are no factions within the party and that such claims are media-driven.
Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi met Shivakumar on Friday, a day after expressing concerns that disciplinary action against minority leaders may send the wrong message.
Shivakumar said he discussed with Jarkiholi the need to decongest Bengaluru traffic by diverting vehicles entering the city from state and national highways, along with party-related issues.
“We also discussed political matters in the interest of the party and the need to work together,” he said.
Later, speaking to reporters, Jarkiholi said he discussed with Shivakumar the issue of withdrawing Jabbar’s suspension. He said he will also visit New Delhi next week to meet the high command and discuss state developments.
“Jabbar’s suspension was discussed (with Shivakumar). It should be withdrawn. Let’s issue him a notice and allow him to reply. Then let’s send the report to the high command and seek their approval. High command approval is necessary because the instructions came from there. It may take some time,” he said.
Stating that he met the KPCC chief for “damage control,” the minister said, “We have tried to convince him. Sometimes certain decisions happen that need rectification.”
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