Jaleel Karopadi murder: ‘Mastermind’ still wandering freely, laments father

Mangaluru, May 9: Expressing a deep distrust towards the local police for not arresting the alleged “mastermind” behind the murder of Karopadi Gram Panchayat vice president Abdul Jaleel, his aggrieved father Haji A Usman on Tuesday urged the State Government to hand over the case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Tears rolled down elderly Usman’s wrinkled cheeks when he said that the mastermind behind the April 20 murder was still wandering freely and attending religious and social gatherings in the region without any fear, as the police are satisfied with the arrest of 11 ‘pawns’.

The police had confirmed the confluence of two angles in the murder case as the victim’s political rivals who had links with the underworld and the local anti-social elements had joined hands to eliminate Abdul Jaleel, whom they had considered a thorn in their way.

Rajesh Nayak, a habitual offender, was waiting to take revenge against Jaleel just because the latter had helped the police to catch him, while Dinesh Shetty was waiting to teach Jaleel a lesson, as the former had lost GP vice president post to the latter. Dinesh Shetty is said to be the cousin brother of the notorious underworld gangster, Vikky Shetty. While police have arrested Rajesh Naik and 10 others, Dinesh Shetty is still at large.

Addressing media persons at the press club in the city, Usman said that even though Home Minister G Parameshwar and District-in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai have directed the police not to spare any suspects in the case, the Superintendent of Police has not taken any step to catch Dinesh Shetty, who according to Usman is the one who orchestrated the murder.

“The SP claims that Shetty is absconding in Kerala. But the fact is that he is wandering freely in Bantwal taluk. He had taken part in a function at Mitthanadka on May 5. He was also spotted yesterday by villagers. When he passes by check posts, the police smile and greet him,” said a helpless Usman, who was accompanied by the colleagues of his murdered son in Karopadi GP.

Usman said that he had approached IGP (Western range) P Harishekaran twice and handed him sufficient proof of Dinesh Shetty’s involvement in the case, but in vain. “Now, I suspect that the police are defending Shetty. I have lost faith in the district police”, he said.

The police have also revealed that the murder was bound by a supari of Rs 5 lakhs, of which Rs. 40,000 has already been paid. “Though the cops are aware of the person behind the transaction, they are not trying to catch him”, he groused.

Usman said that he has decided to personally call on the chief minister in Bengaluru next week and urge him to handover the case to CID and give justice to his murdered son.