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.

Jammu : Joint security forces on Tuesday started a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district after noticing suspicious movement near a tunnel under construction.

Officials said that a security guard on duty at the construction site noticed the suspicious movement and fired three to four rounds as a precautionary measure.

“No loss of life or damage to property has been reported. Following the incident, a joint search operation was launched around 6 a.m. today by personnel of J&K Police, Special Operation Group (SOG) and CRPF in the forest areas of Bhatadurian, Sangiot and adjoining areas,” officials said, adding that no contact or exchange of gunfire between the security forces and the terrorists has taken place so far.

Security forces have launched massive joint cordon-and-search operations (CASO) across the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in the past as well following multiple reports of suspicious movement and security alerts near the Line of Control (LoC).

In Poonch district, a massive joint search was initiated in the Mendhar sector (including Bhatadurian, Sangiot, and Behari Rakh forests) after the security guard reported suspicious movement near an under-construction tunnel.

Additional operations continue in Surankote and Mankote.

In Rajouri District also, operations were intensified in border belts and near Nowshera following intelligence inputs and local reports of suspicious individuals spotted near village sectors.

Operations are conducted by the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles, the Jammu and Kashmir Police Special Operations Group, and the CRPF.

High-tech equipment, including drones and sniffer dogs, has been deployed to sanitise dense forest terrain and rugged mountain tracks.

The security forces have intensified a series of coordinated, intelligence-led Cordon and Search Operations across the Pir Panjal region, specifically focusing on specific village corridors and dense forest clusters in both Poonch and Rajouri districts.

The latest multi-agency operations are targeting active, heavily armed terrorist groups believed to be shifting locations within the rugged border belt.

Jammu Joint security forces on Tuesday started a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district after noticing suspicious movement near a tunnel under construction.

Officials said that a security guard on duty at the construction site noticed the suspicious movement and fired three to four rounds as a precautionary measure.

“No loss of life or damage to property has been reported. Following the incident, a joint search operation was launched around 6 a.m. today by personnel of J&K Police, Special Operation Group (SOG) and CRPF in the forest areas of Bhatadurian, Sangiot and adjoining areas,” officials said, adding that no contact or exchange of gunfire between the security forces and the terrorists has taken place so far.

Security forces have launched massive joint cordon-and-search operations (CASO) across the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in the past as well following multiple reports of suspicious movement and security alerts near the Line of Control (LoC).

In Poonch district, a massive joint search was initiated in the Mendhar sector (including Bhatadurian, Sangiot, and Behari Rakh forests) after the security guard reported suspicious movement near an under-construction tunnel.

Additional operations continue in Surankote and Mankote.

In Rajouri District also, operations were intensified in border belts and near Nowshera following intelligence inputs and local reports of suspicious individuals spotted near village sectors.

Operations are conducted by the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles, the Jammu and Kashmir Police Special Operations Group, and the CRPF.

High-tech equipment, including drones and sniffer dogs, has been deployed to sanitise dense forest terrain and rugged mountain tracks.

The security forces have intensified a series of coordinated, intelligence-led Cordon and Search Operations across the Pir Panjal region, specifically focusing on specific village corridors and dense forest clusters in both Poonch and Rajouri districts.

The latest multi-agency operations are targeting active, heavily armed terrorist groups believed to be shifting locations within the rugged border belt.

New Delhi, Aug 11: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Tuesday raised questions over the arrest of one of the accused in the alleged Jharkhand paper leak case and sought answers from Chief Minister Hemant Soren regarding the involvement of senior officials.

Nishikant Dubey took to social media ‘X’ and said, “From whose office/home of a big official was the arrest of Dharmendra, one of the accused in the Jharkhand paper leak, carried out? Chief Minister Hemant Soren Ji, that official has an old account of stains too, what will it be, a cover-up or action? Rahul Gandhi ji doesn’t even have strength left in him anymore, keep beating the children, keep holding press conferences, keep playing Twitter-Twitter.”

The BJP leader’s remarks came amid the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examination process.

Former Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Chairman L. Khiangte was arrested by the state CID on Monday in connection with allegations related to the commission’s 14th Civil Services Examination.

Khiangte has been under scrutiny over the empanelment of TDPL, a company that was reportedly blacklisted, for conducting the JPSC 14th Civil Services Examination.

A former Chief Secretary of Jharkhand, Khiangte resigned from his position as JPSC Chairman on July 22. At the time, he stated that his resignation was aimed at ensuring a fair and impartial investigation into the matter.

Several employees of TDPL have also been arrested in connection with the case. Those arrested include TDPL Director Ramveer Singh, Marketing Manager Abhay Tiwari, Accountant Rakshak Singh, and technical programmers Usman and Ebad.

On the JPSC side, Deputy Controller of Examinations Shweta Kumari Gupta, staff member Sonu Kumar, and computer operator Dharmendra Kumar have also been arrested as part of the investigation.

Dharmendra Kumar was also questioned for the second consecutive day on August 7. The investigating agency is gathering information about his role, responsibilities, and the specific officials whose emails he managed.

TDPL accountant Rakshak Singh was also interrogated about contacts with candidates, alleged tampering with OMR sheets, and financial transactions.