The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Karnataka is set to seize the properties of the main accused in the murder case of BJP activist Praveen Kumar Nettaru, as they have failed to surrender before the authorities. The NIA had given a deadline until June 30 for the accused individuals to turn themselves in but they remain elusive.
Umar Farooq and Mustafa Paichar, who are residents of Kallu Mutlu, are considered the prime accused in Nettaru’s murder case. Despite the NIA’s extensive efforts to apprehend them in Karnataka and Kerala, they have not been located. As a result, the NIA is now collecting details of the accused’s movable and immovable assets from the Revenue department and other sources, including information about their official bank accounts. This information will be used to compile a list of properties to be confiscated and handed over to the government.
It has been almost a year since the murder of Praveen Kumar Nettaru, yet the NIA has been unable to apprehend the two main accused individuals. In response, the authorities submitted the facts to the local NIA Special court and sought permission to take strict action against the accused persons. The court consented and released an order for the confiscation of their properties if they did not surrender by June 30.
The NIA has already filed a charge sheet against 20 accused individuals, including statements from 240 witnesses. Out of the 20 accused, the NIA has arrested 14 individuals, while six others are currently on the run. The Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) caused controversy when it announced a ticket for Shafi Bellare, one of the accused in the murder case, for the recently held Assembly elections in Karnataka. Despite contesting from jail, Bellare lost his deposit.
Praveen Kumar Nettaru was brutally murdered in Bellare near Sullia in Dakshina Kannada district on July 26, 2022, during a crisis involving the hijab. His death resulted in revenge killings and a series of stabbing incidents in the state.
As the NIA continues its investigation into this high-profile murder case, the seizure of the accused’s properties is seen as a significant step towards ensuring justice for Praveen Kumar Nettaru and his family. The authorities are determined to apprehend all those involved in the crime and bring them to book.
