Udupi: The District and Sessions Court postponed the hearing of hotelier Bhaskar Shetty murder case to February 23, 2018 for fixing the date for trial (FDT).

Accused No 1, Shetty’s wife Rajeshwari, and accused Nos 2 and 3, son Navaneeth and astrologer Niranjan Bhat, were not produced in District and Sessions Court in connection with framing the charges for the murder, as they have been shifted to Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara from Shivamogga jail.

The charges were framed in the court proceedings on October 23, 2017 and the accused declined to accept the charges. The court postponed the hearing for fixing the date to begin the trial.

The High Court has vacated the stay order submitted by the advocate of the accused against appointing special public prosecutor Shantharam Shetty. Following this, the accused counsel has submitted fresh objections to the government as the public prosecutor was appointed by the government and not by the court. The hearing is been adjourned for the next date as the issue remains to be sorted out.

A 54-year old was charged under sexual assault case by Shankaranarayana police in Haladi in Kundapur.

The accused is identified as Narayana, who was repeatedly sexually assaulting his niece, who is in 10th standard. The victim, abandoned by parents, grew in her grandmother’s house. The accused was in the neighbourhood.

The upset victim narrated her tragic tale to her teacher when inquired. The teacher informed CWC and the police. The victim is shifted to protection centre.

CCB sleuths, in association with Pandeshwar police, arrested two more persons in connection with the Ilyas murder case.

Ilyas was hacked to death in his apartment at Jeppu Kudpadi on January 13, 2018.

The arrested are Mohammed Sameer (27), a resident of Ullal and Sameer Hamza (34), a resident of Manjeshwar.