The Udupi police have arrested Lokesh Tej Kottari, 42, of Yedtare village in Byndoor taluk, on Friday, for his alleged involvement in the murder of former president of Mudarangadi gram panchayat David D’Souza in Udupi district on August 7.
With this, a total of nine persons have so far been arrested in this connection.
According to a press note, the Karkala and Padubidri police secured and produced Kottari before the Investigating Officer. The police said Kottari worked in Mumbai, where he became friends with Kishore Ram Poojary, who has been arrested for giving ‘supari’ to three assailants to murder David D’Souza.
Kottari had provided his motorcycle to alleged assailants Anmol Rastogi and Raju, who have been arrested, which was used on the day of the offence. He had also given another motorcycle for the use of the assailants. The two vehicles had been purchased by Kottari from the second-hand market. He had made changes to several parts of the motorcycles and had also erased the original engine and chassis numbers. The police have seized the mobile phones used by Kottari, and the machine used by him to erase the engine and chassis numbers.
D’Souza was attacked by assailant Raju when he was about to board his jeep parked in front of his office, Prince Enterprises, near St. Francis Xavier Church, in Pilar, on August 7. The assailant fled the spot on the motorcycle of his accomplice. The police tracked the assailants and arrested Anmol Rastogi and Ziaul Vazul Sheikh alias Deepak. Raju was shot at by the police when he was running away after shooting at a police Sub-Inspector. Raju was taken into police custody, following his discharge from the Udupi District Hospital, in connection with the attack on the Sub-Inspector.
The police have also arrested Mohammed Irshad, Chiraj Poojary, and Sadananda Devadiga for allegedly providing money to the three assailants. Kishore Ram Poojary, who reportedly had a grudge against David D’Souza for losing the contract for road work, and Suraj Kumar of Bihar, who helped Kishore Ram Poojary in contacting the assailants, have also been arrested.
Published – August 21, 2026 07:33 pm IST
