Suhas Shetty Murder Case: NIA Arrives in Mangaluru After a Year

Suhas Shetty Murder Case: The investigation into the brutal murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty, a case that caused a major stir in the coastal region, has gathered momentum. Nearly a year after the incident, a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrived in Mangaluru to take over the probe.

Following orders from the Union Home Ministry, the NIA took up the case to track down suspected foreign funding and links to banned outfits. A senior five-member team, led by NIA Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Rajav Singh and Inspector Mallikarjun, arrived in Bajpe on Tuesday.

The officials have seized old police records and crucial diaries related to the case for verification. Notices have already been issued to several local individuals suspected of having ties with the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), directing them to appear for questioning. Additionally, officials are keeping a close watch on the movements of a few suspects.

Last year on August 2, 2025, NIA officials conducted simultaneous mega-raids across 14 prominent locations falling under the Suratkal and Bajpe police station limits. The second phase of the investigation has now commenced based on digital evidence, bank account details, and documents seized during those raids. Reliable sources indicate that officials have moved to direct interrogations after uncovering vital leads.

Background of the Case: Suhas Shetty was travelling in a car near the Kinnipadavu junction near Bajpe around 8:00 PM when a gang led by an individual named Safwan intercepted the vehicle and brutally hacked him to death with lethal weapons.

The deceased, Suhas Shetty, was notably the prime accused in the previous murder case of Mohammed Fazil in Suratkal. A subsequent police investigation revealed that Fazil’s brother, Adil Mahroof, had allegedly paid a bounty (supari) of ₹3 lakh to the contract killers to assassinate Suhas Shetty.

Because the murder is suspected to involve an organized terror conspiracy and foreign funding, the Central Government handed over the case to the NIA in the interest of national security. More than 12 individuals, including PFI activists, have already been arrested and jailed. With the NIA re-entering the picture, the actual masterminds behind this murder plot are expected to be unmasked soon.