Mangaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified its investigation into the murder case of right-wing activist Suhas Shetty, with officials continuing to gather evidence and examine possible links to banned organisations and financial transactions.
As part of the ongoing probe, an NIA team visited the Bajpe police station and collected documents and records related to the case. The agency has also issued notices to certain individuals, directing them to appear before investigators for questioning.
The fresh round of investigation comes after the central agency earlier obtained case files and preliminary information from the Mangaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB), which had been investigating the murder.
NIA gathers case documents and evidence
Sources said the NIA team resumed a detailed examination of the case after collecting relevant records from CCB officials and reviewing the progress made in the investigation so far.
The agency is understood to be scrutinising various aspects of the case, including the sequence of events leading to the murder and the alleged network of individuals connected to the crime. Officials are also examining statements and evidence collected during the initial investigation conducted by local police and the CCB.
Investigators visited the Bajpe police station to obtain additional documents and records that could assist in piecing together the circumstances surrounding the murder and identifying any wider conspiracy.
The issuance of notices to certain individuals indicates that the agency is broadening the scope of its investigation and seeking more information from persons who may possess knowledge relevant to the case.
Focus on alleged PFI links
During the investigation, the NIA is reportedly examining allegations regarding the involvement of individuals linked to the banned organisation, the Popular Front of India (PFI).
The agency is investigating whether any persons associated with the organisation played a role in planning or facilitating the murder. However, officials have not made any formal announcement regarding specific findings, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The NIA is also probing possible foreign funding connections in the case. Investigators are attempting to determine whether financial assistance from external sources may have been used to support activities related to the murder.
Financial transactions under scrutiny
As part of the probe, NIA officials have reportedly examined the bank account details of the accused and are verifying financial transactions linked to the case.
Sources said investigators are analysing money trails and financial records to ascertain whether funds were transferred for planning or executing the crime. The agency is also gathering additional evidence concerning the alleged involvement of PFI-linked individuals.
Officials are expected to question more individuals and collect further documentary evidence as the investigation progresses.
Possibility of more arrests
The NIA is also exploring the possibility of making additional arrests based on the evidence gathered during the investigation. Sources indicated that further action could follow if new links or conspiratorial elements emerge during the probe.
So far, 12 people have been arrested by the Mangaluru police in connection with the murder case. The accused are facing investigation on charges related to the killing of Suhas Shetty, whose murder had triggered widespread attention in the coastal region.
The transfer of the investigation to the NIA underlines the seriousness of the case and the agency’s mandate to examine possible organised networks, financial links and any broader conspiracy behind the murder.
Authorities have not disclosed a timeline for completing the investigation, and officials said further details would emerge only after additional evidence is collected and verified.