CID to probe Saudi businessman Bhaskar Shetty murder case

Udupi, Aug 16: The Karnataka state government has ordered a probe by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the murder of NRI businessman Bhaskar Shetty.

The development comes after several media reports exposed the alleged special treatment' accorded to the accused in the murder case by the Udupi police.

Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports, Pramod Madhwaraj, who is also the Udupi District in-charge Minister, had recently written to Home Minister G. Parameshwara, urging him to hand over the case to CID.

52-year-old Bhaskar Shetty, who owned business establishments in Saudi Arabia and Udupi, was reported missing on July 28 amid strong rumours that he had irreconcilable differences with his wife. Later, it was found that he was murdered and the body remains, mostly urns of ashes, were buried or thrown into river.

Police have so far arrested five persons in connection with the murder case. Bhaskar Shetty's wife Rajeshwari Shetty and son Navneeth Shetty are the main accused. Their astrologer friend Niranjan Bhat, his father Srinivas Bhat and his associate Raghavendra are also co-accused in this case.