Questions raised over slow pace of probe into Shiroor seer’s death

coastaldigest.com news network
August 19, 2018

Udupi, Aug 19: The speakers at a public condolence meet for late Sri Lakshmivar Theertha Swami of Shiroor Mutt held on Saturday at Mathura Chathra near Sri Krishna temple in Udupi expressed dissatisfaction over the police probe into the suspicious death case.

The Shiroor seer died on July 19 at the Kasturba Hospital in Manipal. The hospital had said that that there was “suspicion of poisoning” and that toxicological samples had been sent for testing.

The district police received the post-mortem report from the hospital about three weeks ago, which stated that the final cause of death had been kept pending for the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory report which is still awaited.

Esha Vavittala Dasa Swami of Kemar Mutt said that the kin of the departed seer should lodge a murder complaint regarding his death.

He said suspicions about the Shiroor seer’s death were raised after the statement issued by the hospital. The ‘aradhane’ ritual, which should be have been held after 13 days of the seer’s death, should be held immediately, he said.

Ravikiran Murudeshwar, Shiroor seer’s advocate, demanded to know the delay in getting the RFSL report. “There is a serious issue. No one from the mutt has filed complaint in this case. I really don’t understand for the unprecedented delay in getting the RFSL report. There are chances of destroying the evidence,” he said.

Vadiraja Acharya, Shiroor seer’s ‘purvashrama’ brother, said he was saddened that barring Vidyadheesha Tirtha Swami of Paryaya Palimar Mutt, the other seers of the ‘Ashta Mutts’ had avoided the Shiroor seer immediately after his death.

After the condolence meeting, a silent procession was taken out on Car Street.Some people objected to the main door of Shiroor Mutt being closed during the offering of tributes. But Radhakrishna Shetty, Samiti president, said that the representatives of Sode Mutt, which was in charge of Shiroor Mutt, had given permission only for paying tributes outside.

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News Network
December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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coastaldigest.com news network
December 20,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 20: City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy has issued a high-alert warning to vehicle owners regarding a surge in cyber fraud targeting those looking to pay traffic violation fines. Fraudsters are reportedly exploiting recent government discount schemes on traffic penalties to deceive citizens.

The Scam: How Fraudsters Strike

Criminals are using SMS, WhatsApp, and social media to circulate suspicious links and APK files (Android application packages). They claim these apps allow users to pay e-challans at a discount.

•    Device Hacking: Downloading these unauthorized apps gives hackers full access to the victim's smartphone.

•    Financial Theft: Once the phone is compromised, fraudsters intercept OTPs and personal data to drain bank accounts.

•    Phishing Sites: Fake websites mimicking official portals are also being used to harvest banking credentials.

Already, two residents within Mangaluru city limits have reported significant financial losses after falling victim to these fraudulent apps.

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