Businessman Bhaskar Shetty murder case: Hearing begins with tight police security
Udupi, July 02: The hearing of witnesses in the businessman Bhaskar Shetty murder which startled the entire state began at the principal district and sessions court here on Monday with tight police security. After killing Bhaskar Shetty, his body was burnt in the homa kundam.
On the first day, the hearing held from 11 am to 1.30 pm and important witnesses and complainant Gulabi Shedti, mother of Bhaskar Shetty, witnessed in the case. District public prosecutor Shanti Bai got the statement of Shedti. Her enquiry would also continue on July 03. Counsel Ashwini Kumar Joshi would argue in the case. Shanti Bai would get the statement from then investigating officer SV Girish on July 03.
Due to lack of space in the court hall, the hearing of the incident was conducted at the conference hall of the court. Projectors were installed in the conference hall to conduct the video conference of accused Bhaskar Shetty wife Rajeshwari Shetty (50), son Navaneeth Shetty (20) and Nandalike Niranjan Bhat (26) who are in Parappana Agrahara central jail in Bengaluru.
Sources said that the accused were not produced before the court citing security reasons. Two other accused Srinivas Bhat (56), father of Niranjan Bhat and car driver Raghavendra (26), who are on bail, were present at the court during the hearing.
Advocates of accused Arun Bangera, Arun Kumar Shetty, Kalyan Joshi, Vikram Hegde, A Sanjeeva and others were present. Out of total 167 witnesses, hearing of 44 witnesses would continue till July 6 and from July 16 to 19.
Tight police security
In view of the hearing of the witnesses, police security was beefed up in the court on Monday. Metal detectors were installed in the main door of the principal district and sessions court judge office in the first floor of the court complex. Except advocates, no one was allowed inside the court hall.
Inside and outside the court hall, armed police personnel were taking guard. Gulabi Shedti was given tight police security.
SP Lakshman was present in the court and observed the witnesses giving statements. Udupi DySP Jaishankar, district armed police force inspector Raghavendra, Manipal police inspector Sudarshan and others were in charge of the police security.
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UDF will have huge win in Kerala, NDA won't open its account: Cong leader Satheesan
Kochi (PTI): Senior Congress leader V D Satheesan on Friday expressed confidence in a huge win by the UDF, claiming it will make a clean sweep in five districts, and brushed aside speculations that the NDA will open its account in Kerala.
Satheesan, speaking to reporters here a day after the conclusion of the Assembly polls, praised the performance of the UDF leaders and workers during the election, saying it was the best ever he has seen in the last 30 years.
He said that his claims of the UDF getting over 100 seats is not a mere statement, but based on the work the front has done during the last five years to bring back all those who had left it in 2005 and as a result, there was a huge wave in its favour in the state.
The leader of opposition in the state assembly, who contested from the Paravoor constituency, further said that the Congress-led front also had a major social backing from minorities and marginalised groups in the society.
Besides that, there was an anti-incumbency feeling among the people who were disappointed with the LDF rule, he claimed and said that the UDF provided them with a hope and an alternative which no other opposition had done in the past.
"All these factors will contribute to a huge win for the UDF and it would not be surprising if we make a clean sweep in Malappuram, Wayanad, Ernakulam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts. That is a total of 43 seats," he said.
According to him, the polling percentage increased because the UDF got people added to the electoral list.
He also brushed aside the LDF remarks about a woman or youth CM, saying that "they can make such statements now as they know they cannot win".
"Otherwise, why did they campaign with Pinarayi Vijayan as the main factor. Why did they say a third Pinarayi rule will come?" he asked.
He also claimed that the LDF's decision to spend government money on its political campaign, by putting up hoardings and carrying out social media programmes to sway voters, has also backfired as people realised that their taxes were being wasted like that.
Asked whether the NDA will open its account, especially in areas where the UDF claimed the BJP-led front had made a deal with the LDF, Satheesan replied in the negative.
He said that as of now he does not see any chance of the NDA opening its account in the state.
