Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120351920300.htm

Karnataka

CBI probe sought into killing of Dilip Naik

Correspondent

Karwar: A case has been filed in the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court here by Sanjay Baburao Naik seeking an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the killing of Dilip Naik. Mr. Sanjay Naik is the nephew of Dilip Naik, who was killed in a gang war here four years ago.

Mr. Sanjay Naik has sought reinvestigation of the case and inquiry into the possible role of Minister for Fisheries and Science and Technology Anand Asnotikar and his mother, Shubhalata Asnotikar, Congress MLC, in the murder.

Mr. Sanjay Naik is represented by criminal lawyer C.V. Nagesh of Bangalore.

Mr. Sanjay Naik has contended that Mr. Asnotikar, being a Minister, has the capability to scuttle the investigation by the police. He has cited the example of the former Assistant Commissioner of Karwar, Vijay Mahantesh, who was transferred out of Karwar allegedly for pronouncing the judgment against Mr. Asnotikar in an election-related case recently.

The petitioner has pleaded with the court that the investigation be done by an agency that is not under the control of the State Government.

Shot dead

It may can be recalled that Vasant Asnotikar, the then Karwar MLA, was shot dead by three persons in Karwar. The main accused, Dilip Naik, fled the country.

The Corps of Detectives arrested him in Iran and brought him back to India. He got bail a few months later, after which he was murdered on Cutinho Road in the heart of Karwar city.