Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Dec 30: The district police have invoked the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA) against two accused, including underground criminal Kali Yogesh, in connection with the murder of Pangala-based Sharath Shetty that took place in 2023, district superintendent of police Hariram Shankar said.
In this connection, Yogish Acharya (54), a resident of Thaudabettu in Kote village of Kaup taluk and the second accused in the murder case, has been arrested and booked under the KCOCA. He was produced before the special KCOCA court in Mysuru and remanded to judicial custody. The prime accused, Kali Yogesh, is absconding abroad.
Police said that in December 2022, Kali Yogesh, Yogish Acharya and their associates had allegedly assaulted Chandrashekar and others over a land dispute, following which a case was registered at Kaup police station. In March 2023, Sharath Shetty was allegedly murdered by Kali Yogesh, Yogish Acharya and their associates after it came to light that Sharath Shetty had supported Chandrashekar instead of Yogish Acharya in the earlier assault case. A murder case was subsequently registered at Kaup police station.
Chandrashekar Shetty of Pangala, a key witness in both cases, was allegedly threatened on the night of October 20 at around 8.15 pm by Yogish Acharya and his associates, who warned him not to depose against them, to compromise the cases and to settle a monetary dispute. They allegedly abused and threatened to kill him if he failed to comply.
Taking the matter seriously, a team led by Kaup PSI Tejaswi TI, under the guidance of Karkala subdivision assistant superintendent of police Dr Harsha Priyamvada and Kaup circle inspector Azmath Ali, arrested Yogeesh Acharya. He was earlier produced before the Udupi additional senior civil judge and ACJM court and released on bail.
However, in view of the accused being involved in more than two heinous offences, the KCOCA was subsequently invoked against Yogih Acharya and Kali Yogesh. Yogish Acharya was re-arrested and produced before the special KCOCA court in Mysuru, which remanded him to judicial custody. Kali Yogesh continues to be absconding abroad.