Udupi: The Udupi district police have invoked the stringent Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA) against two accused, including absconding underground criminal Kali Yogesh, in connection with the 2023 murder of Pangala resident Sharath Shetty. Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar said the move was taken after establishing the organised and repeat nature of the crimes committed by the accused.
The second accused in the case, Yogish Acharya (54), a resident of Thaudabettu in Kote village of Kaup taluk, has been arrested under the provisions of KCOCA. He was produced before the special KCOCA court in Mysuru, which remanded him to judicial custody. The prime accused, Kali Yogesh, continues to remain absconding and is believed to be residing abroad, police said.
Background of the case
According to the police, the sequence of events leading to the invocation of KCOCA dates back to December 2022. During that period, Kali Yogesh, Yogish Acharya and their associates allegedly assaulted Chandrashekar Shetty and others over a land-related dispute. A case was registered in this connection at the Kaup police station.
The dispute and rivalry reportedly escalated in the months that followed. In March 2023, Sharath Shetty, a resident of Pangala, was allegedly murdered by the same group. Police investigations revealed that Sharath Shetty had supported Chandrashekar Shetty in the earlier assault case instead of Yogish Acharya, which allegedly became the motive behind the murder. Following the incident, a murder case was registered at the Kaup police station.
Threats to key witness
Chandrashekar Shetty of Pangala emerged as a key witness in both the December 2022 assault case and the March 2023 murder case. Police said that on October 20, at around 8.15 pm, Yogish Acharya and his associates allegedly threatened Chandrashekar Shetty to prevent him from testifying against them.
The accused reportedly warned him to compromise the cases and settle a monetary dispute. They also allegedly threatened him with death if he failed to comply with their demands. Taking the threats seriously, Chandrashekar Shetty approached the police, prompting immediate action.
Initial arrest and bail
Based on the complaint regarding the threats, a police team led by Kaup Police Sub-Inspector Tejaswi TI arrested Yogish Acharya. The operation was carried out under the guidance of Karkala subdivision Assistant Superintendent of Police Dr Harsha Priyamvada and Kaup Circle Inspector Azmath Ali.
Yogish Acharya was initially produced before the Udupi Additional Senior Civil Judge and ACJM court. At that stage, he was granted bail in the case related to criminal intimidation. However, further investigation into his criminal background and involvement in multiple serious offences led the police to re-examine the case from a broader legal perspective.
Invocation of KCOCA
Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar said that during the course of investigation, it was established that the accused were involved in more than two heinous offences, fulfilling the criteria for invoking the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act. The police subsequently sought approval from the competent authorities to book Yogish Acharya and Kali Yogesh under KCOCA.
Following the approval, Yogish Acharya was re-arrested under the provisions of the Act and produced before the special KCOCA court in Mysuru. The court remanded him to judicial custody, recognising the seriousness of the charges and the organised nature of the alleged crimes.
Search for absconding accused
The prime accused, Kali Yogesh, remains absconding. Police sources said he is believed to be abroad and efforts are under way to trace his whereabouts and bring him back to face trial. The police are coordinating with other agencies and are also exploring legal options to initiate further action against him.
Officials stated that Kali Yogesh has a history of criminal activities and is known as an underground criminal. His continued absence has posed challenges to the investigation, but the invocation of KCOCA is expected to strengthen the case against him.
Police emphasis on organised crime control
The Udupi district police said the decision to invoke KCOCA reflects their commitment to tackling organised crime and ensuring the safety of witnesses. Senior officers noted that threatening witnesses and repeatedly engaging in violent crimes would not be tolerated, and stringent legal provisions would be applied wherever necessary.
Police also reiterated that protection of witnesses remains a priority, especially in cases involving serious offences such as murder and organised criminal activity.
Conclusion: With the invocation of KCOCA against Yogish Acharya and absconding accused Kali Yogesh, the Udupi district police have taken a decisive step in the Sharath Shetty murder case. While one accused is now in judicial custody, efforts continue to track down the prime accused, as police aim to ensure justice and curb organised crime in the district.