3 min learnBengaluruAug 8, 2026 12:57 PM IST
A Karnataka Congress chief, David D’Souza, was murdered at level‑clean vary in Udupi district on Friday afternoon in what police suspect was a contract killing linked to a monetary dispute over a building mission.
Three males allegedly concerned within the homicide have been arrested, the police mentioned, figuring out them as Raju, 42, from Uttar Pradesh, Ajay Rastogi alias Anmol, 23, from Uttarakhand, and Jiyahul Vazool Shek alias Deepak, 38, from Bihar.
D’Souza, 55, was shot lifeless round 3.45 pm close to the St Xavier Church advanced in Mudarangadi in Kapu taluk. In keeping with the police, he had returned to his Thar after visiting his workplace on the advanced when two unidentified males arrived on a motorbike. One among them allegedly fired at his head earlier than fleeing. The incident was caught on CCTV.
D’Souza was taken to Adarsh Hospital in Udupi, the place medical doctors declared him lifeless. A case was registered at Shirva police station on fees of homicide and beneath the Arms Act.
D’Souza was a former president of the Mudarangadi Gram Panchayat and a civil contractor. He had served a number of phrases as panchayat president and likewise ran companies, together with an area bar and a public transport unit.
Raju from Uttar Pradesh, Ajay Rastogi from Uttarakhand and Jiyahul Vazool Shek from Bihar have been arrested for his or her alleged function in Udupi Congress chief David D’Souza’s homicide.
Policeman, accused harm in shootout
“Throughout the investigation, we obtained data that three males allegedly concerned within the taking pictures have been travelling by bus in the direction of Bhatkal. A police workforce intercepted the bus at Ottinane in Byndoor,” a senior police official mentioned.
In keeping with police, the three males obtained off the bus and tried to flee. Throughout the chase, one of many accused, Raju, allegedly pushed Kapu Police Sub-Inspector Tejaswi and fired on the officer with a pistol earlier than trying to flee.
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The police mentioned they fired at Raju’s leg in self-defence and subsequently caught him together with the pistol. Tejaswi sustained accidents and is present process remedy at Udupi District Hospital. Raju can also be admitted to the hospital.
“A separate case has been registered towards Raju for allegedly opening fireplace on the officer at Byndoor police station,” the senior police officer added.
The 2 different accused have been arrested individually. Whereas Ajay was caught in Kumta, Shek was arrested in Bhatkal, with help from the native police. The police additionally seized the motorbike that was allegedly used within the crime and deserted.
Police suspect contract killing
Preliminary investigation means that D’Souza had a monetary dispute with an out-of-state firm in reference to a building mission he had undertaken, the police mentioned. Investigators suspect {that a} ‘contract’ was issued to kill him following the dispute.
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“We at the moment are making an attempt to determine those that allegedly commissioned the killing and those that assisted the accused by offering monetary assist or shelter,” a police officer mentioned.
