17 accused in Sukhananda Shetty murder case acquitted

The Sixth Additional District and Sessions Judge D.T. Puttarangaswamy has acquitted 17 persons, in nine cases registered in connection with the murder of Sukhananda Shetty, a BJP leader, near Surathkal in December 2006.

A group of persons came in a multi-utility vehicle and attacked Mr. Shetty, a marble trader, near Kulai-Honnakatte Junction in Surathkal on December 1, 2006.

He died on way to the hospital. There was violence while the body was being taken in a procession from the hospital to Mulky.

The police had to lathicharge and fire tear gas shells, which led to the death of two persons.

Chargesheet against 21

A chargesheet was filed against 21 persons, including prime accused Akbar Kabir and underworld operative Maduru Yusuf.

The case against Kabir, who died during the trial and Yusuf, who was murdered in the Mangaluru District Prison, was abated.

However, the case against accused persons Dadapal Abdul Rahiman and Nazar Kalladka has been kept pending as they are reportedly absconding.

After going through evidences of 72 witnesses, the judge acquitted Nawaz, Naushad, Sakeer alias Mohammed Shakeer Raffiq, Abdul Khader Ali, P.K. Ayub alias Ayub, M. Mohammed Ashraf, Fathima Johara alias Fathima, Saleem, Kalander Bajpe alias Kalander Baba, Rahamath alias Kalander, Azeez alias Europian Azeez, Afroz, M.B. Nijamuddin, Mohammed alias Dada Mohammed, Ayub alias Gurupura Ayub, Nazeer alias Sadu Nazeer Ullaibettu and Althaf Hussain.

This judgement was common for all the nine cases registered in connection with Shetty’s murder, the judge noted.

The judge asked the District Legal Services Authority to take steps to award compensation to the heirs of Sukhananda Shetty under the Karnataka Victim Compensation Scheme.