Bengaluru : Police investigating the alleged kidnapping and life threats issued to Sandeep, a witness in the Renukaswamy murder case, have reportedly traced two industrialists who allegedly played a key role in threatening him.

The two have been identified as Kiran and Gaurav Shetty, police said on Tuesday. Investigators are also examining the role of an influential woman in the case.

According to police sources, forensic analysis of call records has revealed that Kiran and Gaurav Shetty were on a conference call when Sandeep was allegedly threatened. Investigators suspect that the duo used accused Puneeth to intimidate and blackmail Sandeep.

Sandeep, a bar cashier and the 49th witness in the fan murder case, had allegedly been forcibly taken in a car and threatened with dire consequences. Kamakshipalya police subsequently registered a case and began investigating the incident.

Police had earlier arrested three accused persons — Puneeth, Suhas and Venu — in connection with the case. During the investigation, police seized Puneeth’s mobile phone and retrieved his WhatsApp data. The data was subsequently sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for analysis.

The FSL findings reportedly helped investigators establish the communication between the accused and the two industrialists. Police suspect that Kiran and Gaurav were in a conference call with Puneeth at the time Sandeep was allegedly threatened.

Investigators are also examining the role of an influential woman in the case. According to police sources, the woman allegedly contacted Puneeth before Kiran and Gaurav Shetty approached him and asked him to carry out whatever instructions were given by the two industrialists.

Police suspect that the threats to Sandeep were part of an attempt to intimidate him and prevent him from providing information or testimony in the murder case.

The investigation gained momentum after police recovered and analysed digital evidence from Puneeth’s mobile phone. The WhatsApp data and other forensic evidence reportedly helped investigators establish the alleged roles of the accused and their communication with others involved in the case.

Police are now awaiting further technical and forensic reports before deciding on the next course of action against those suspected of involvement.

Sandeep is listed as the 49th witness in the Renukaswamy murder case.

The latest developments have added another layer to the investigation, with police examining whether the alleged threats were intended to influence or intimidate witnesses connected to the case.

The Renukaswamy murder case relates to the alleged abduction and murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of Darshan from Chitradurga. Darshan, Pavithra Gowda and 15 others have been arrested and charge-sheeted in connection with the case.

According to the prosecution, Renukaswamy was allegedly abducted and brought to Bengaluru in June 2024. Investigators have alleged that he was assaulted at a shed before succumbing to his injuries. His body was later allegedly dumped near a stormwater drain on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

The case is currently being tried before the Bengaluru Sessions Court. The Supreme Court had earlier cancelled Darshan’s bail and directed his immediate re-arrest, while also ordering that he should not be given VIP treatment in prison.

New Delhi, Aug 10: In a significant breakthrough, the Central Range of Delhi Police Crime Branch on Monday arrested a proclaimed offender carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 who had been evading arrest for more than 12 years in a sensitive forgery case, involving fake letterheads of prominent political offices and government authorities.

The accused, identified as Manoharan Kandhasamy, was wanted in connection with FIR No. 33/2008 registered under Sections 465 and 468 of the Indian Penal Code at Mandir Marg Police Station, New Delhi.

According to Delhi Police, the arrest concludes a long and challenging manhunt against the accused, who had allegedly misused the judicial process by jumping bail and remaining untraceable for years.

The case has its origins in FIR No. 384/2007 under Section 380 IPC, registered at Mandir Marg Police Station on the complaint of Vijay Kumar, a resident of Hyderabad. Kumar reported that while staying at a Dharamshala in Delhi, he had kept gold ornaments and other valuables inside an almirah in his room. Upon returning, he found the almirah lock broken and the valuables missing.

During the investigation, police apprehended Manoharan Kandhasamy, who originally hailed from Karnataka. Although the stolen property could not be recovered from his possession, a search conducted during the investigation led to the recovery of several printed and blank letterheads purportedly issued by eminent political offices and government authorities.

Given the seriousness of the matter and its wider implications, both cases were later transferred to the Crime Branch for further investigation.

During the course of the investigation in the forgery case, Kandhasamy was arrested and sent to judicial custody. However, after spending about a month in custody, he was granted bail by the court. Police said that after securing bail, he deliberately failed to appear before the court and absconded, thereby obstructing the judicial process.

In 2014, the Court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at Patiala House Courts, New Delhi, declared him a Proclaimed Offender. Despite extensive efforts by investigators, the accused remained untraceable for several years, leading authorities to announce a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to his arrest.

After more than a month of sustained technical surveillance and verification, the team identified a mobile number allegedly being used by the accused in Tamil Nadu. Acting on this lead, police initiated continuous surveillance and field inquiries in the state.

The operation ultimately led investigators to Tiruchengode in Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. On August 4, the accused was traced to a godown on the outskirts of the town, where he was reportedly engaged in the poultry business. He was subsequently arrested by the Crime Branch team.

During interrogation, Kandhasamy admitted that after being released on bail, he intentionally absconded due to fears of being sent back to jail and facing conviction in the case. He told investigators that he severed ties with former associates, changed his place of residence, and relocated to Tamil Nadu to avoid arrest.

Police said he had settled there with his family, established a livelihood, and continuously concealed his identity and whereabouts from law enforcement agencies.

Manoharan Kandhasamy, approximately 62 years old, originally belongs to Mangaluru in Karnataka. He has been residing with his family in Tiruchengode, Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu, for several years. Married and a father of two children, he is engaged in the poultry business and operates a poultry farm that serves as the primary source of income for his family.

Hyderabad, Aug 10: Hyderabad Police have arrested four persons for cheating people on the pretext of locating hidden treasure, officials said on Monday.

The sleuths of the Commissioner’s Task Force, Shamshabad Zone, in coordination with the Rajendra Nagar police, busted a racket involving cheating of innocent persons on the false pretext of locating hidden treasure (Gupta Nidhulu) buried beneath houses, a police officer said.

Police investigation revealed that the accused had cheated 11 people to the tune of around Rs one crore in different areas.

According to K.S. Rao, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Taskforce, the accused used to approach innocent and gullible people, claiming that they possessed special knowledge and could locate hidden treasure buried underground in residential premises. After digging the ground, they used to plant a sack containing coal along with duplicate gold-coated coins. Later, they absconded after stating that it would take some time to convert the coal into gold.

The accused have been identified as Mohd Munawar, Syed Ali Ashraf, Mohd Haji and Mohd Salman.

Police seized two four-wheelers, one auto-rickshaw, two motorcycles, four cell phones, 25 fake gold coins, coal, soil and puja material from their possession.

According to police, the prime accused, Munawar, was engaged in car denting and painting work. As his income was not sufficient to meet his family expenses, he allegedly hatched a plan to cheat gullible people by claiming that he had special knowledge and the ability to locate hidden treasure (Gupta Nidhulu) buried beneath their houses. He contacted his friends, who joined him in the illegal activity with the intention of earning easy money.

A case was registered against the accused at Rajendra Nagar Police Station under BNS sections 318(4), 351(2), 61(2) r/w 3(5).

The police said that it has come to their notice that, in recent times, some fraudsters have been moving around streets, villages, and towns claiming that hidden/underground treasures (Gupta Nidhulu) are available at certain places and are cheating the gullible people by making false promises.

Police have cautioned the general public not to believe or fall victim to such persons and their fraudulent activities.