NIA arrests two absconding accused in BJP leader Praveen Nettaru murder case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested two absconding accused on Saturday for allegedly sheltering the assailants involved in the 2022 murder of BJP Yuva Morcha leader Praveen Nettaru. The arrests took place in Kochi, Kerala, and Hosur, Tamil Nadu, during a coordinated operation. The operation was carried out based on specific inputs received from the Andhra Pradesh Police, according to an official statement released by the agency.

The two arrested individuals have been identified as Abdul Nasir P, who also goes by the alias Nasir, and Naushad. The NIA had earlier chargesheeted both Abdul Nasir and Naushad under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UA(P) Act, for their alleged involvement in the crime.

According to the official release, the chargesheeted duo knowingly and voluntarily harboured the main assailants who had murdered Praveen Nettaru. Nettaru served as a District Executive Committee member of the BJP Yuva Morcha in the Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka. The case was registered as RC-36/2022/NIA/DLI, also known as the Praveen Nettaru Murder Case.

Before the successful operation on Saturday, a Look Out Circular (LOC) and an open-dated Warrant of Arrest had been issued against both of the chargesheeted accused by the NIA Special Court in Bengaluru. To aid in their capture, the NIA had also announced a cash reward of Rs 4,00,000 each for any information that would lead to their whereabouts.

With these latest two arrests, the total number of accused held in connection with the murder case has now risen to 24. Despite this progress, three other accused individuals still remain absconding. The agency stated in its press release that the NIA is continuing with its investigative efforts to track down the remaining absconders who are still at large.