Mangalore, Aug 11: The personnel of the district crime intelligence bureau (DCIB) have succeeded in arresting Kodymbady Vishwanath Shetty (47), who is facing the charge of murdering his business partner, Sootrabettu Vishwanath Rai, and discarding Rai's body near Honnavar before disappearing 13 years ago.

 

 

Addressing a press meet here on Monday August 11, superintendent of police Dr Sharanappa said that about 13 years ago, Vishwanath Rai alias Baddi Vishwa, owner of Shiva Finance, was murdered by the same firm's manager Vishwanath Shetty alias Panchami Vishwa alias Raju. Shetty was arrested Kadambur in Satyamangala taluk of Tamil Nadu in a joint operation by the DCIB and Tamil Nadu police, he said.

The murder, which occurred at a house near Gandhi Park in Uppinangady, was committed in connection with financial dispute between the two.

Both Vishwanath Shetty and Vishwanath Rai, who were closed friends, used to jointly operate the finance firm which was founded in 1999. The firm was doing brisk business. On June 7, 2001, the two friends met at a house owned by Vishwanath Rai near Gandhi Park, Uppinangady.

Vishwanath Rai's wife and daughter used to stay in the family's house at Harinagar in Hirebandady village in Uppinangady, while the house near Gandhi Park was used for business purposes.

During the above meeting, the two friends-cum-partners started arguing on some point. After the quarrel worsened, in a fit of rage, Vishwanath Shetty murdered Rai with a sharp weapon. Shetty then reportedly loaded the mortal remains of Vishwanath Rai in his Maruti Zen car and drove it towards Honnavar. After discarding the body in a roadside drain near Honnavar, Shetty came back with the car, kept the car near Kadri Park Mangalore on June 8, and escaped with cash of one lac rupees.

After Rai's body was recovered from Honnavar, the police contacted Uppinangady station on the basis of an identity card found in his shirt pocket. During the investigation conducted by Puttur rural police circle inspector, N B Kamal, it came to be known that the car of Shetty was abandoned at Mangalore. Initially, the policem concluded that both the partners had been killed.

Subhas Gowda, an employee of the firm who was present during the fight, and who had been threatened by Shetty when he tried to intervene, returned to his native place, Beltangady, and narrated what had transpired to an advocate. At the advice of the advocate, he explained the turn of events to Puttur rural police circle inspector. On a complaint filed by him, a murder case was registered in Uppinangady police station on June 9, citing Vishwanth Shetty as the accused. Shetty remained elusive thereafter, and rumours doing the rounds said that he had either moved to Dubai or committed suicide.

The police later learnt that Shetty had directly gone to Bhawani, a town in Tamil Nadu, and worked there as driver for a hospital. During his stay there, he came in contact with a doctor, who owned an estate in Kadambur. Shetty, who had changed his name as Raju, worked as estate manager in Kadambur for eight years. During the period, he also started Raj Finance and Chit Fund at Kadambur and became popular with the name, 'Raju Tambi'.

The DCIB and Uppinangady police, based on credible information about his whereabouts, went to Irode in Tamil Nadu and nabbed him near the bus stand in Kadambur.

Under the directions of the SP, police inspector of district crime intelligence bureau, Pavitra Tej P R, Puttur rural police circle inspector, B Suresh Kumar, and other personnel were involved with the operation. On Sunday, Shetty was taken to the spot of murder in connection to the investigation.

The SP said that police personnel involved in the investigation would be given appreciation letters along with monetary rewards.

When a reporter asked if the murder of auto driver Mohammed Rifai at Maripalla was a case of gang war, the SP said that investigation into the case is on and a clear picture would arise only once its over.