MUDARANGADI, KARNATAKA, INDIA – AUGUST 7, 2026 In broad daylight, 55-year-old businessman and local Congress leader David D’Souza, former president of Mudarangadi Gram Panchayat and owner of Prince Enterprises, was shot dead. The attack took place at around 3:45 p.m. outside the St Xavier Church complex as D’Souza was getting into his vehicle. Two men arrived on a motorcycle, and one of them shot him in the head with a pistol. The attack was captured by security cameras. D’Souza died while being transported to the hospital.
David D’Souza
Police subsequently arrested the alleged direct perpetrators of the murder, Raju, Anmol Rastogi, and Ziaul Vazul Sheikh alias Deepak. Raju allegedly attempted to shoot at a police officer while trying to escape, and police shot him in the leg. Further investigation led to the arrests of people suspected of financing and organizing the murder, including Chirag Poojary, 26, Mohammed Irshad, 43, Sadananda Devadiga, 41, and Kishore Rama Poojary, 47. Suraj Kumar, 31, was also later detained, along with Lokesh Teja Kothari, 42, who police said provided the motorcycle used in the murder.
According to police, the likely motive was a dispute over a multi-crore contract from Udupi Power Corporation Ltd. for laying pipelines and constructing a concrete road in the Yermal area. D’Souza won the contract, although contractor Kishore Rama Poojary was also interested in it. Investigators allege that Poojary plotted the murder after losing the contract and arranged the money to carry it out. According to later police findings, the payment for the murder was approximately 1 million Indian rupees ($10,500).
Police also said Anuj Patil, 35, an alleged gangster from Mumbai, was involved in the case and helped arrange the shooters. Patil was detained on August 24. During his transfer, he allegedly attempted to attack police officers, seize a pistol, and escape. An officer subsequently shot him in the leg. Investigators say Patil had 11 criminal cases registered against him in several Indian states, 10 of which were related to weapons laws.
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/udupi-police-arrest-two-more-persons-in-connection-with-murder-of-ex-panchayat-president/article71352395.ece
