SC refuses bail petition of Rajeshwari in Bhaskar Shetty murder case

Udupi : Supreme Court on Thursday August 10 rejected the bail application of Rajeshwari Shetty, who is one of the accused of barbaric murder of non-resident businessman from Udupi, her husband Bhaskar Shetty on July 28 last year.

The deceased was tortured and killed in his residence, taken to the house of Niranjan Bhat in Nandalike, Karkala which is 25 kilometers away, his body was set on fire and his burnt bones and ashes were thrown in the nearby river.

Primary accused Rajeshwari had applied for bail in the high court. Following the rejection of bail by the high court, she had applied for bail in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has now rejected the bail application till the investigations are completed. The Court has asked to submit new application after six months if the investigations remain incomplete till then.

Bhaskar Shetty who had business in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere had allowed his wife Rajeshwari Shetty to run Durga International, Udupi and other businesses. As he found financial irregularities in the business looked after by his wife, he used to remain in Udupi for longer periods. As Bhaskar Shetty came to know of illegal relationship of his wife with Nandalike resident astrologer Niranjan Bhat through her mobile, he was deeply hurt.

Therefore Bhaskar Shetty had decided not to give his properties to his wife in his will and to write them in favour of his mother instead. He was also urging his wife to divorce him. Rajeshwari Shetty, therefore allegedly killed Bhaskar Shetty with the help of astrologer Niranjan Bhat.

Rajeshwari Shetty had tried to set fire to some documents when Bhasker had asked her for accounts. Their son Navaneet Shetty had assaulted his father Bhaskar when he tried to prevent it. Bhaksar Shetty was missing since July 28, 2016. Police started searching for him since July 31. Bhaskar Shetty’s mother had complained to Manipal police that his wife and son had abducted him.

Rajeshwari Shetty, son Navaneet Shetty and Niranjan Bhat are still in jail. They were arrested last year. Other two accused Srinivas Bhat and Raghavendra are out on bail.