Yes, we caught him: Mangaluru top cop confirms arrest of NaMo Naresh, finally

Mangaluru, Jun 26: Mangaluru City Police Commissioner M Chandra Sekhar has finally confirmed the arrest of NaMo Brigade leader Naresh Shenoy in connection with the coldblooded murder of Mangaluru based RTI activist Vinayak Baliga.

Even though rumours over the arrest of Naresh Shenoy have been doing rounds for last couple of days, the top cop said that the former was nabbed only on Sunday (June 26).

Acting on credible information, sleuths of Mangaluru CCB headed by Inspector Valentine D'Souza arrested the 39-year-old absconding murder accused at Hejamadi in Udupi district, Mr Chandra Sekhar told media persons in his office.

The top cop said that Naresh was evading Jammu and Kashmir, Gorakhpur, Lucknow and places bordering Nepal in the last three months.

Mr. Chandra Sekhar said that Shenoy's interrogation is expected to throw more light on the murder of Baliga. Baliga had filed a number of applications before the Mangaluru City Corporation and other departments under the Right to Information Act. He had also filed a suit questioning the financial dealings of Sri Venkataramana Temple on Car Street here.

Mr. Chandra Sekhar said that Baliga's activism is among the reasons for the murder. Ruling out the reported involvement of underworld operative Vikki Shetty in the murder, Mr. Chandra Sekhar said that the murder plan was hatched by Shenoy and executed by three of the arrested persons.

Mr. Sekhar commended the work by Deputy Commissioners of Police K.M. Shantaraju and Sanjeev M. Patil; Assistant Commissioner of Police K. Tilakchandra; inspectors Shantaram, Ravish Nayak, Rajesh, Valentine D'Souza and Maruti Nayak' police sub-inspectors Shyam and police constable Rajendra. These personnel would be rewarded after the submission of the supplementary charge sheet.

The development comes four days after the police filed a preliminary charge sheet in Vinayak Baliga murder case before the III Judicial Magistrate First, listing Naresh as Accused No. 1.

All the remaining six accused have already been arrested by the police and one of them is out on bail.

Naresh, son of M Namadev Shenoy, is the founder of Mangaluru unit of Namo Brigdae, later renamed as Yuva Brigade. Hence, he is popularly known as NaMo Naresh. Naresh was also running an Ayurveda medicine supplying firm at V T Road in Mangaluru.

52-year-old Baliga was brutally murdered near his house at Kodialbail in the city in the wee hours on March 21.

The police first arrested Vineet Poojary, Nishit Devadiga and Shiva alias Shivaprasad, who allegedly murdered Baliga.

Later police arrested photographer K. Manjunath Shenoy alias Manju Neereshwalya for allegedly helping Naresh in evading arrest. On June 18, police arrested Srikant, a close associate of Naresh, who was accused of hiring services of the three assailants.

The alleged inability of the Mangaluru police to nab the prime accused had led to severe discontent in Mangaluru as well as the State. Several protests were held by activists led by rationalist Narendra Nayak and also by family members of Vinayak Baliga demanding arrest of Naresh. They had accused elected representatives of being silent over the inordinate delay in arresting Naresh.

Also Read : Who gave shelter to NaMo Naresh in Jammu, UP and Nepal border?