Udupi (The Hindu): Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports, said on Wednesday that a special team would be formed to probe into the murder of the businessman Bhaskar Shetty, which took place here on July 28.

He was speaking at a meeting organised by the Buntara Sangha at the Ammanni Ramanna Shetty Hall, here. The meeting was called by the sangha demanding a high-level and impartial probe in the murder case.

Mr. Madhwaraj said that he would talk to Home Minister G. Parameshwara and the new Superintendent of Police, who would take charge here on Thursday, on the formation of the special team. If it was found that the investigation was still not taking place expeditiously, then it could be handed over to the CID or even the CBI.

He had sent the video-clipping given by the sangha where one of the accused was seen sitting in front of the police van to the Inspector-General of Police (Western Range) to investigate it. Since there were complaints about S.V. Girish, Investigation Officer in the case, he had been replaced with D.P. Suman, Assistant Superintendent of Police.

The demand for the former Superintendent of Police of Udupi district K. Annamalai to head the probe would have to be thought of as he had already been transferred to Chikkamagaluru district.

“We will take action as per law in the matter so that the guilty, however powerful they are, do not go scot-free,” he said.

Earlier, a tearful Gulabi Shetty, mother of Bhaskar Shetty, submitted a memorandum to Mr. Madhwaraj, seeking an impartial and speedy probe into the matter.

Sheela K. Shetty, vice-president of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat, said that the way the police had given “royal treatment” to the accused had made them a suspect in the eyes of the people. Public confidence in the case could only be restored if it was handed over either to the CID or the CBI, she said.

Joggu Shetty, relative of Bhaskar Shetty, said that when he had first approached the Manipal police station to inform the police that Bhaskar Shetty was missing, the attitude of the police officers there was casual. It was only after Ms. Gulabi Shetty went and got the complaint registered that the police took it seriously, he said.

Ajit Kumar Rai M., Indrali Jayakar Shetty, Sukumar Shetty, Appanna Hegde, Ravindranath Hegde and other leaders of Buntara Sangha were present.