Suhas Shetty (in photo) had previously been named the main accused in the murder of Mohammed Fazil, who was allegedly targetted over the killing of BJP youth leader Praveen Nettaru. (File Photo)The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Saturday announced that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will take over the probe into the murder of Suhas Shetty, a Karnataka Bajrang Dal leader and the prime accused in the 2022 murder of 23-year-old Mohammed Fazil. Shetty was killed in Mangaluru on May 1 by a group of men.The decision to hand over the case to the NIA follows repeated demands from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had earlier petitioned Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot regarding the matter. The BJP had accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of being soft on the perpetrators.Suhas Shetty’s mother, Sulochana Shetty, had also called for the case to be transferred to the NIA. She had alleged deliberate mishandling of the probe at the state level.Suhas Shetty was killed near Kinnipadavu Cross within the Bajpe police station limits while travelling with five associates. Their vehicle was intercepted by attackers reportedly using a Swift car and a pickup truck. The assailants used lethal weapons to assault Suhas Shetty, inflicting fatal injuries.The Mangaluru city police have so far arrested 12 persons in connection with the murder.Suhas Shetty had previously been named the main accused in the murder of Mohammed Fazil, an MBA graduate who was killed by masked men in Surathkal on July 28, 2022. Fazil’s murder was allegedly carried out as retaliation for the killing of BJP Yuva Morcha worker Praveen Nettaru. According to the police at the time, Suhas Shetty and five others had planned the attack, aiming to “kill someone” to avenge Nettaru’s death.Also Read | Praveen Nettaru murder: NIA arrests man who helped chief conspirator escapeSuhas Shetty had five criminal cases registered against him – four in Mangaluru city and one in the Dakshina Kannada district. He was accused of murder, robbery, and criminal intimidation, among others.Story continues below this adOn Sunday, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka welcomed the move of the MHA and thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “We thank Amit Shah for handing over the Mangaluru Hindu worker and brother Suhas Shetty murder case to NIA,” he said.“There is a big religious fanatic force in the coastal region engaging in murder, communal riots. We had demanded that the Governor hand over the case to the NIA. This is a good development and a win for the BJP,” Ashoka added.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:National Investigation Agency