Udupi: Sharath Shetty murder case – KCOCA invoked against Yogish Acharya, absconding Kali Yogesh

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Dec 30, 2025: The Udupi district police have invoked the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA) against two accused, including underground criminal Kali Yogesh, in connection with the 2023 murder of Pangala resident Sharath Shetty, said Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar.

Yogish Acharya (54), a resident of Thaudabettu in Kote village of Kaup taluk and the second accused in the case, has been arrested under KCOCA. He was produced before the special KCOCA court in Mysuru and remanded to judicial custody. The prime accused, Kali Yogesh, is currently absconding and is believed to be abroad.

According to the police, in December 2022, Kali Yogesh, Yogish Acharya and their associates allegedly assaulted Chandrashekar and others over a land dispute, leading to a case being registered at Kaup police station. In March 2023, Sharath Shetty was allegedly murdered by the same group after it emerged that he had supported Chandrashekar instead of Yogish Acharya in the earlier assault case. A murder case was subsequently registered at the same police station.

Chandrashekar Shetty of Pangala, a key witness in both cases, was allegedly threatened on October 20 at around 8.15 pm by Yogish Acharya and his associates. They reportedly warned him not to testify against them, to compromise the cases, and to settle a monetary dispute, threatening him with death if he failed to comply.

Taking the threats seriously, a police team led by Kaup PSI Tejaswi TI, under the guidance of Karkala subdivision Assistant Superintendent of Police Dr Harsha Priyamvada and Kaup Circle Inspector Azmath Ali, arrested Yogish Acharya. He was initially produced before the Udupi Additional Senior Civil Judge and ACJM court and released on bail.

However, as the accused were found to be involved in more than two heinous offences, the police later invoked KCOCA against Yogish Acharya and Kali Yogesh. Yogish Acharya was re-arrested and produced before the special KCOCA court in Mysuru, which remanded him to judicial custody. Kali Yogesh continues to remain absconding abroad.