Saudi bizman murder: Bhat swallows diamond ring to avoid arrest

executive@coastaldigest.com (CD Network)
August 9, 2016

Udupi, Aug 9: Astrologer Niranjan Bhat, one of the key suspects in the murder of businessman Bhaskar Shetty, had attempted suicide by swallowing a diamond-studded finger ring and ear studs just a day before his arrest, police said.

niranjan

Niranjan Bhat, the astrologer (file photo)

Bhat had swallowed the ring and studs in Bengaluru on August 7, Additional Superintendent of Police Vishnuvardhan N siad. He was arrested at Nitte in Karkala, Udupi district, a day later but didn't show any signs of ill health.

Around 11 pm, he complained of severe stomach pain. Police rushed him to hospital but he tried to avoid undergoing scan.

Investigation Officer S V Girish made him undergo the scan to locate the ornaments in the stomach and intestine. He was fed natural laxatives such as bananas and raw vegetables.

The ornaments may take some time to come out of the body through the bowels. Doctors are checking his stools (faeces).

As of now, Bhat is out of danger as the ring he had swallowed was a whole one. The ring or studs were not powdered. But doctors fear harm to his intestines from the sharp edges of the ear studs.

Bhaskar Shetty, a prominent businessman from Udupi, who owned a chain of supermarkets in Saudi Arabia, had gone missing on July 28 and was found murdered later.

Police have arrested his wife Rajeshwari B Shetty, son Navneeth Shetty and Bhat for the murder. They suspect Rajeshwari was having an affair with Bhat and misappropriating Shetty's money.

Shetty had also threatened to divorce Rajeshwari and disown her as well as Navneeth.

Mom-son in custody

Rajeshwari and son Navneeth Shetty were on Monday remanded in police custody for five days. Manipal police had sought nine days of custody when they were produced before Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division) Rajesh Karnan of Udupi court.

Sources said that apart from Rajeshwari, Navneeth and astrologer Niranjan Bhat, some others could have been involved in the murder, said sources.

Also Read:

Saudi bizman Bhaskar Shetty murdered by wife, son in Udupi with priest's help

Days after assault by wife and son, Udupi hotelier Bhaskar Shetty goes missing

Udupi

udupi 1

udupi 2

udupi 3

udupi 4

udupi 5

Comments

Satyameva jayate
 - 
Wednesday, 10 Aug 2016

Astrologer could not decide his own plans and future

IBRAHIM ABDULLAH
 - 
Tuesday, 9 Aug 2016

BY THE WAY MR. NAREN >WHERE ARE YOU, MISSING YOUR COMMENTS.
ARE YOU SLEEPING LIKE KUMBAKARNA. IF ANY ONE INVOLVED FROM
PARTICULAR COMMUNITY YOU START TO BARK ... WHERE ARE YOU

Ahmed
 - 
Tuesday, 9 Aug 2016

naren is hidden behind homa..hhahaa

Indian
 - 
Tuesday, 9 Aug 2016

Naren, Where are you!! No comments!!!!

Oh understand your guys right!!!

Mahendra
 - 
Tuesday, 9 Aug 2016

he should not be released he should not be allowed in the society another monster to born should not be allowed.

Jeevith kumar
 - 
Tuesday, 9 Aug 2016

Really its horrible to keep him the category of son's place. he s just an animal. he lost the humanity.

PREM
 - 
Tuesday, 9 Aug 2016

They are walking like cheddi members.. Usually cheddis create mischief in the society and then claim peace maker and protectors of hindus . in reality they care only the upper caste and for the rest they only wake up for few days when things get exposed... thats the reality we should understand and recognise their deception of love for hindu brothers

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
April 11,2025

cabinet.jpg

Bengaluru, Apr 11: In a significant development, the Karnataka Cabinet on Friday formally accepted the controversial Socio-Economic and Educational Survey, popularly known as the caste census, nearly a decade after it was conducted. The report will be taken up for detailed discussion in a special Cabinet meeting on April 17.

The survey was originally carried out in 2015 by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes under the chairmanship of H. Kantharaj, and finalised in February 2024 by his successor, K. Jayaprakash Hegde. The long-awaited report—comprising 50 volumes of detailed caste- and community-related data—was placed before the Cabinet in a sealed cover, which was opened during Friday’s meeting.

Backward Classes Welfare Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, while briefing the media, said the report would now be distributed to all Cabinet ministers so they could examine its findings ahead of the April 17 meeting. Though the government did not disclose the contents of the report, it sought to validate the survey’s legitimacy by presenting statistical data.

“As per the 2011 Census, Karnataka’s population was 6.11 crore. By 2015, when the survey was conducted, it had grown to an estimated 6.35 crore. The survey covered 5.98 crore people—a coverage of 94.17 percent,” Tangadagi said.
He added that only 37 lakh people, or 5.83 percent, were left out of the enumeration process.

Highlighting the scale of the operation, the minister said 1.6 lakh government officials participated in the survey. An expert committee was constituted, which developed 54 criteria to guide the data collection. The state government also engaged Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to manage the survey data under a ₹43 crore agreement, with the total expenditure reaching ₹165 crore.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H. K. Patil announced that a special Cabinet session will be held on April 17 to deliberate on the report's contents. When asked about concerns over the completeness of the data, Patil responded, “Even in the national Census, some people are left out. A 94 percent coverage is a very significant achievement.”

The caste census remains a politically sensitive issue in Karnataka. Dominant communities such as the Lingayats and Vokkaligas have questioned the methodology of the 2015 survey, alleging undercounting. In contrast, Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and SC/ST groups have welcomed the report, arguing that it sheds light on social realities long ignored.

The Congress party had pledged to act on the caste census in its manifestos for the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. National party leader Rahul Gandhi has also been advocating for a nationwide caste census.

The Cabinet’s acceptance of the report comes just days after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s meeting with Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, and the Congress Working Committee’s session in Ahmedabad.

Six Ministers Skip Cabinet Meeting

At least six ministers were notably absent from Friday’s Cabinet meeting. These included:

    S. S. Mallikarjun and Laxmi Hebbalkar (both Lingayats)

    M. C. Sudhakar and K. Venkatesh (both Vokkaligas)

    R. B. Timmapur (SC)

    Madhu Bangarappa (Idiga community)

However, Minister Patil clarified that despite their absence, all ministers have endorsed the Cabinet’s collective decision, regardless of caste or community affiliations.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
April 12,2025

Bengaluru, April 12: Karnataka is set to experience a fresh spell of rainfall across multiple districts from April 12 to 18, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The forecast comes on the heels of an unusually wet start to April, with most parts of the state already recording significantly above-average rainfall.

Data from the IMD reveals that Karnataka received 19.1 mm of rainfall in the first week of April—well above the state’s average of 4.7 mm for the period. The coastal region recorded 18.1 mm (compared to the usual 4.7 mm), the north interior region saw 13.9 mm (against 3.8 mm), and the south interior region reported a striking 23.8 mm (surpassing its normal 5.5 mm).

Out of Karnataka’s 31 districts, 25 experienced excess rainfall during the first week of April. Three districts received normal rainfall, one recorded deficient rainfall, and another remained dry.

The upcoming week is expected to bring moderate rainfall to a wide swath of the state, including:

Coastal Karnataka: Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada

Southern and Central Districts: Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapur, Chikkamagaluru, Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Kodagu, Kolar, Mandya, Mysuru, Ramanagara, Shivamogga, Tumakuru

Northern Districts: Ballari, Davanagere, Chitradurga, Vijayanagara

Scattered rainfall is also forecast in several areas of north interior Karnataka.

Rainfall Outlook by Date:

April 12: Showers expected in Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Koppal, and Vijayapura

April 13: Belagavi and Raichur likely to receive rainfall

April 14–16: Rain likely across all districts of Karnataka

Rainfall activity was already observed on Friday in parts of coastal Karnataka, north interior Karnataka, and isolated pockets of the south interior region. Mangaluru (Dakshina Kannada) recorded 4 cm of rain, while several areas in Yadgir—including Kakkeri, Shorapur, Saidapur, and Gabbur—each received 3 cm. Similar amounts were recorded in Jalahalli (Raichur) and parts of Bidar district.

With more wet days ahead, the rainfall is expected to bring some relief from the heat as Karnataka continues into the heart of summer.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
April 16,2025

bantwalaccident.jpg

Bantwal, Apr 16: A fatal pothole on a local road has claimed the life of a young community leader, sending shockwaves through the Bantwal region. Melroy D’Sa (25), president of the Thodambila Unit of the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM), died in a tragic bike accident late Tuesday night.

Melroy was reportedly riding his motorcycle when he lost control after hitting a pothole. Locals who witnessed the incident rushed him to a nearby hospital, but despite swift medical attention, he could not be saved.

A beloved figure in youth circles, Melroy was known for his leadership, vibrant spirit, and active involvement in community service across the Bantwal deanery. Many had seen him as a rising leader with a bright future.

The ICYM Central Council expressed profound grief over the loss, paying tribute to Melroy’s dedication to youth empowerment and his unwavering commitment to social causes. His untimely death has left a deep void in the community he passionately served.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.