Mangaluru: Amar Alva murder case is certainly one of the most sensational cases that the coastal belt had ever witnessed. Many say that the killing of Mangaluru strongman in 1992 had its own implications on the underworld in Karnataka and in an unexpected turn in the case, the High Court squashed the case against Ashok Shetty, the sixth accused facing charges. Merely four months ago, case against Uday Shetty, another accused was squashed and only Ashok Shetty was left facing charges. With this case being squashed, all of the seven accused in the case are now free.
Alva was shot dead on July 14, 1992 near Milagres Church, Mangaluru. It is said that Amar Alva was shadowing them and fearing him the seven plotted to eliminate him. Ashok Shetty who was in Dubai was contacted by the other accused to help them kill Alva.
Shetty was booked under various sections of the IPC, Arms Act and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). Ashok Shetty along with the other accused Udaya Shetty were absconding and the case against them was split up.
Why was the case squashed?
The High Court in its recent judgment quashing the case against Ashok Shetty said that the main accused (accused No 1-3) have already been acquitted by the court and when there is no separate and distinct allegations and the prosecution already put in evidence against accused Nos. 1 to 3 and others, perhaps the prosecution may not have separate evidence against this petitioner also.
The Court maintained that in such circumstances it will be an exercise in futility to make the petitioner to undergo the ordeal of crime, and then to be acquitted.
Quashing the case against Ashok Shetty, the HC said, “In view of the above said facts and circumstances and the law laid down for above said case, it is just and necessary to quash the entire proceedings against this petitioner as the petitioner also stand on the same footing as that of accused No. 6 (Udaya Shetty)”.
The other five accused in the case were acquitted by the trial court in 1996. The case against Udaya Shetty was also quashed earlier this year. The case against the accused was that they were hiding in Goa after looting Rs 6 lakh in Udupi in 1991.
