Suhas Shetty, the prime accused in the 2022 Fazil murder case, was brutally hacked to death near Kinnipadavu Cross in Mangaluru’s Bajpe area on Thursday, 1 May.
Published May 03, 2025 | 2:24 PM ⚊ Updated May 03, 2025 | 2:24 PM
The Mangaluru police have apprehended eight accused in the Suhas Shetty murder case. (Supplied)
Synopsis: On 3 May, Mangaluru Police arrested eight suspects in the murder of Suhas Shetty, a key accused in multiple past crimes, including the 2022 Fazil murder. The killing was allegedly revenge-driven, led by Abdul Safwan with financial backing from Fazil’s brother. Among those arrested are also two Hindu men, busting the ‘communal angle’ attributed by right wing to the crime.
The Mangaluru police on Saturday, 3 May, have apprehended eight accused in the Suhas Shetty murder case.
The accused have been identified as Abdul Safwan, Niyaz, Mohammed Muzammil, Khalandar Shafi, Adil Mehroof , Nagaraj, Ranjith and Rizwan.
Police Commissioner of Mangaluru, in the press release stated that, they had formed special teams comprising the Mangaluru CCB ACP team, the Mangaluru North Sub-Division ACP team, and a special team from the Bajpe Police. These teams conducted a joint operation and successfully apprehended the accused.
Suhas Shetty, the prime accused in the 2022 Fazil murder case, was brutally hacked to death near Kinnipadavu Cross in Mangaluru’s Bajpe area on Thursday, 1 May.
Shetty was accused of the murder of Mohammad Fazil, a resident of Mangalwarpete in Katipalla, in front of a shop in the Suratkal area of Mangaluru in 2022. He was also accused of the murder of a 20-year-old, Keerthi, at Devearagudda in Bajpe in 2020 and stabbing two others.
According to the press release, during interrogation, it was revealed that the main accused, Abdul Safwan, had been assaulted in 2023 by Suhas Shetty’s associates—Prashath, Ganesh, Yajnesh, Dhanraj, and Puneeth. A case of grievous assault was registered at the Surathkal Police Station.
In retaliation, and after receiving threats from Suhas Shetty and his associates, Abdul Safwan conspired with others to murder Suhas Shetty.
It was also established that Adil Mehroof, the brother of Fazil (who was previously murdered in Surathkal), provided financial support to carry out the murder.
The police further noted that the Swift car (KA 19 MK 1501), Bolero pick-up (KA 20 AB 2459), and weapons used in the crime have been seized. However, the search for others who assisted the accused is still underway.
Suhas Shetty, was hacked to death by a group of assailants near Kinnipadavu Cross in the Bajpe area on Thursday. Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and several right wing IT cell supporters were quick to allude communal motives to the murder, deeming it an attack on Hindutva activists. Among those arrested for Suhas’s murder are two Hindu men, busting the communal narrative propped in connection to the case.
Anupam Agarwal, Mangaluru commissioner, earlier speaking of the murder noted, “Rowdy sheeter Suhas Shetty was accused number 1 in the Fazil murder case which took place in 2022. He was intercepted by pick up vehicle and another Maruti Swift car. In order to save himself, he tried to escape and run. However, five to six people in Maruti Swift chased and attacked him with deadly weapons.”
He continued, “Though he was brought to the hospital, he couldn’t survive. A murder case has been filed in this regard.”
Following the murder, prohibitory orders also were imposed in the city from 6 AM on 2 May to 6 AM on 6 May.
As per the order released, it is prohibited for the public to congregate or roam in groups of five or more than five in the restricted area. It is also prohibited to carry any weapons, causing physical violence and, exhibition of figures or effigies or persons. Any provocative speech against government institution and working officers is also totally prohibited.
