Cops hunt for VHP leader, two others in kidnap case that cost the life of DySP

Bengaluru/Chikkamagaluru, Jul 16: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has announced reward for information on three suspects in the kidnapping case in Chikkamagaluru that also cost the life of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) of Chikkamagaluru sub-division Kallappa Handibag.

Two CID teams investigating the case are looking for Khandya, who is the VHP Shivamogga division secretary, and his associates not only in Karnataka but also outside the state.

Naveen Shetty is a resident of Sanjaynagar in Bengaluru and has cases in various police stations in Bengaluru city. Shetty, a dog breeder, had reportedly executed the kidnapping of Tejas Gowda on June 27 night on the directions of Khandya. The kidnappers had confined Tejas Gowda at Shetty's dog breeding site.

Gowda, sources said, had to return some money to Kalmane Nataraj, who runs a chit-fund business.

When Gowda did not return the money, Nataraj approached Khandya to get money from Tejas. Police had found Khandya's SUV (Scorpio) at a homestay near Karadihalli Kaval in Chikkamagaluru.

Investigating officer CID SP Dr Rajappa and his team completed primary investigations and left for Bengaluru last Monday.

Two CID inspectors are camping in the district and are continuing the investigation. Highly placed sources informed Deccan Herald that the CID team has picked up Khandya's close friend for questioning.

Khandya's mobile phone has been switched off for the past eight days.

According to the tower location, his phone was active in three states including Goa and Delhi, on the first two days of the incident. Police suspect he gave his mobile phone to his associates and went into hiding outside the state.

Sangh Parivar local leaders said, “Khandya had reportedly asked senior Sangh Parivar leaders to revlieve him from responsibilities of the Sangh Parivar as he wanted to focus on agriculture and dairy farming. As he had failed to get any directions from higher ups in the Sangh Parivar, he had not issued any statement.”

In fact, Khandya was all set to organise a press meet in Bengaluru on July 5 to clarify that he was not involved in trapping Handibag and in the Tejas kidnapping case, a close aide of Khandya's told Deccan Herald.

However, the press meet was cancelled after Handibag commited suicide on July 5. In fact, Khandya was in Chikkamagaluru town on July 4 and 5 and had met a lawyer.

After he learnt that the CID was after him, he had called his wife from an unknown number saying he was not arrested, said sources in the police department.

The police have filed a case against the trio in Basavanahalli police station. The CID has threatened action against those who help the suspects and added that informers' identities will be kept confidential. The public can inform the CID police on details related to the suspects at 080–22094498 or DySP 9480800170.