RTI activist murder case : Court rejects anticipatory bail plea of key suspect Naresh Shenoy

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Apr 29, 2016:  The 2nd Additional District and Sessions Court has on April 29, Friday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Yuva Brigade founder Naresh Shenoy who is considered to be the key suspect in the RTI activist Vinayak Baliga murder case.

District and Sessions Judge Sarvodaya Shettigar who heard the arguments of Naresh Shenoy’s legal counsel Shambhu Sharma and also that  of  Public Prosecutor Shekhar Shetty who opposed the bail plea, passed a judgement  stating that the anticipatory bail plea of Shenoy has been rejected.

Reacting to the court ruling, Naresh Shenoy’s advocate Shambhu Sharma said " We still have faith in the justice  system  and will  appeal to a higher court."

 ACP Tilakchandra who is the investigation officer in the Vinayak Baliga murder case had filed his objection to the anticipatory bail plea of Naresh Shenoy through the Public Prosecutor citing  several reasons including call details and statements of the arrested accused.

The  affidavit filed by  the Vinayak Baliga family through advocate Sachin Devendra opposing the anticipatory bail plea of Naresh Shenoy   was also taken into cognizance by the court.

Police have already arrested Vinith, Nishith and Shivaprakash in connection with the murder. Meanwhile, the other accused namely Naresh Shenoy, Srikanth, Shailu and Vighnesh are still absconding.

While Prof. Narendra Nayak argues that if he had got anticipatory bail it could have come to pass that one could mastermind a murder lie low for some days and then get anticipatory bail. Once out on it the criminals could threaten witnesses destroy evidence all with the kind co-operation of the corrupt elements of the Mangalore police. The very nature of their investigation, the shoddy way some were ‘fixed’ into the case make a strong case for having been ‘fixed’ by the master brains behind the murder of Baliga. It has also been rumoured that in order to protect one of such, evidence has been also manipulated.

    The aged parents of Baliga and his unmarried sisters shed their silent tears in helplessness, those who are behind the crime are busy manipulating things to mislead the trial. The very fact that the accused Naresh Shenoy has been able to evade arrest shows the inefficiency of the Mangalore police? Or is it that there are invisible hands behind pulling strings to make them infructuous?

     All law abiding citizens of Mangalore are today apprehensive of taking up any cases or complaints against the rich and powerful sections of the society whatever grave injustice they may do. The conduct of the authorities supports this. The accused are now trying to knock at the doors of the higher courts to try for anticipatory bail and keep themselves away from the supposedly long arms of the law, which though now may seem neither long nor strong.

Protest on May 2, 2016

   A protest march will be held from the place where Vinayak Baliga was murdered to the Police commissioner’s office on the 2nd of May at 3.30 pm. This march will be via Kodiyalbail, Vithoba temple road, Temple square, Bhavanthi street to the Police commissioner’s office where we will present a memorandum to him. We do expect citizens to turn out in large numbers to join us and show that we demand justice for Vinayak Baliga