NIA Chargesheets 11 Accused in Brutal Killing of Hindutva Worker in Karnataka.

Killing was planned by Islamist outfit PFI, NIA chargesheets 11 in Bajrang Dal leader Suhas Shetty murder case.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | New Delhi | Oct 31, 2025:: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against 11 individuals accused of involvement in the targeted killing of Suhas Shetty, a Bajrang Dal leader, in Karnataka. The chargesheet was submitted to the NIA special court in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

According to the NIA, the killing was part of a larger conspiracy hatched by Abdul Safwan Safwan, a former member of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), along with Niyaz, Mohammed Musamir, Noushad, and Adil Maharoof. The accused allegedly tracked Shetty’s activities for months before carrying out the attack on May 1 this year.

Key Findings of the Investigation:

– Deliberate Ambush: Seven accused in two cars trailed Shetty’s vehicle, causing a deliberate accident and blocking escape routes.
– Brutal Attack: Shetty was brutally hacked to death with lethal weapons, including swords and machetes, in full public view.
– Funding and Recruitment: Accused Maharoof provided funds to recruit other accused, exploiting existing enmities with the victim.
– Co-Conspirators: Eleven individuals have been chargesheeted, with investigation ongoing against another arrested accused, Abdul Razak.

The NIA’s investigation revealed a sinister plot to instill fear and spread terror in society. The agency’s swift action in filing the chargesheet underscores its commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

NIA, which took over the case on the directives of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, found a larger conspiracy behind the targeted killing.

NIA further found during investigations that Shetty’s activities were meticulously tracked over several months as part of the elaborate conspiracy, and on the fateful day, seven accused in two cars trailed his Innova car, the statement said.

The accused caused a deliberate accident on the Innova car driven by Shetty, followed by intentional ramming by another vehicle; thereby blocking all escape routes for him and his friends, it said.

Shetty was forced to flee on foot and was chased and hacked to death by the assailants.

According to NIA investigations in the case, the terror plot was hatched by accused Abdul Safwan Safwan alias Kalavaru Safwan alias Chopu Safwan, a former member of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), along with Niyaz alias Niya, Mohammed Musamir alias Mahamed Musameer alias Mohammad alias Muzammil, Noushad alias Vamanjoor Noushad alias Chotte Noushad alias Chotu, another former Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD) and PFI member, and Adil Maharoof.

Accused Maharoof had provided the funds, which were used to recruit other accused on the promise of payment or by exploiting any previous existing enmity with the victim, the NIA said.

All these five accused, along with Kalandar Shafi alias Mande Shafi, M Nagaraja alias Naga alias Appu, Ranjith, Mahammed Rizwan alias Rijju, Azaruddin alias Azar alias Ajju and Abdul Khader alias Noufal, are named in the chargesheet filed on Wednesday, the statement said, adding that investigation against another arrested accused, Abdul Razak, is underway.

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_Inputs from PTI.