Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru/Mangaluru
Bengaluru/Mangaluru, June 8: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has officially taken over the probe into the sensational murder of activist and alleged rowdy sheeter Suhas Shetty, who was brutally killed on May 1 in Kinnipadavu near Bajpe, within the jurisdiction of Mangaluru city police.
The union ministry of home affairs (MHA) issued the order entrusting the investigation to the central agency, following growing demands from political and public quarters. The NIA will now take custody of the arrested accused and is expected to begin an in-depth interrogation.
Suhas Shetty, who was reportedly affiliated with Bajrang Dal, was travelling with five associates on the night of the incident when a group of assailants intercepted their vehicle near Kinnipadavu Cross around 8:30 pm.
The attackers, said to be travelling in a Maruti Swift car and a pickup truck, launched a deadly assault with lethal weapons, leaving Shetty with grievous injuries. He succumbed to his wounds soon after.
The incident sparked widespread outrage, especially among many organisations and political outfits. The BJP had last month submitted a memorandum to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, urging that the case be handed over to the NIA, accusing the ruling Congress government of showing leniency in handling such sensitive cases. The BJP maintained that only a central agency could ensure an impartial and thorough investigation.
Adding to the pressure, Suhas Shetty’s mother, Sulochana Shetty, had publicly criticised the state government’s approach, alleging that attempts were being made to downplay the seriousness of the crime.
“My son was tortured and killed by a group of over 50 people. Ministers G Parameshwara and Dinesh Gundu Rao wrongly labelled him as a rowdy. He was a Bajrang Dal worker, not a criminal. Only the NIA can deliver justice,” she had stated in an emotional appeal.
Initially, the investigation was being conducted by the Mangaluru CCB (Central Crime Branch), which had arrested 12 suspects in connection with the murder. However, following the home ministry’s directive, the probe has now been formally transferred to the NIA, which will examine the broader conspiracy, potential links to organised crime, and any communal angles involved.
Suhas Shetty had five criminal cases registered against him, including two murder charges, but was widely known in pro-Hindu circles for his active role in local campaigns.
The case, now under the NIA’s lens, is expected to gain national attention as it unfolds in the coming weeks, with both political and community stakeholders closely watching the developments.