The National Investigation Agency (NIA) logo.
Credit: PTI File Photo
Mangaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday conducted searches at 18 locations in various districts in Karnataka in connection with the Suhas Shetty murder case.
A release from NIA said that Bajrang Dal member Suhas Shetty was assaulted and brutally murdered by accused Abdul Safwan and others using lethal weapons in the Bajpe area of Mangaluru in May. The killing was intended to spread terror in society.
The NIA, which took over the case from the local police in June, searched the residences of 12 arrested individuals and various suspects.
The searches were carried out in Mangaluru, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan, leading to the seizure of various digital devices, including 11 mobile phones, 13 SIM cards, and eight memory cards, along with incriminating documents. Investigation into the conspiracy behind the killing will continue, stated a release from the NIA.
Suhas Shetty was hacked to death by a group of assailants at Kinnipadavu in Bajpe on May 1.
Following the murder, BJP had urged the state government to hand over the case to NIA to probe. Later, on June 7, the ministry of home affairs had ordered NIA probe into the murder. Already, the police had arrested 12 persons in connection with the murder of Suhas Shetty.