Bajarang Dal Puttur District unit convenor, Bharath Kumdelu, surrendered before Principal District and Sessions Court, Mangaluru, on Friday, in the case related to the murder of Ashraf Kalai in Bantwal in 2017.
Kumdelu was named accused No. 1 among the nine persons booked by the Bantwal Town police station in connection with the Ashraf Kalai murder. After he was named accused No.1 by the Bantwal Rural police in the murder of sand transporter Abdul Rahiman in Kuriyala of Bantwal taluk on May 27, 2025, Kumdelu failed to appear before the Principal District Court for the trial of Kalai murder case.
The court then issued a non-bailable warrant against him.
On Friday, Kumdelu surrendered before the court. The judge, Basavaraj, remanded him in judicial custody till October 25.
The police said Kumdelu was an accused in 15 cases that were registered in Bantwal Rural, Bantwal Town, and Puttur Town police stations. The latest case booked against him was on May 16 at the Puttur Town police wherein he was accused of making inflammatory speech at a programme in Puttur Kasba village to pay condolences to murder victim Suhas Shetty.
Published – October 10, 2025 08:50 pm IST
