Mangaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another accused in connection with the murder of Hindu activist and BJP Yuva Morcha member Praveen Nettaru. The accused, identified as Abdul Rehman, was detained by NIA officials soon after he landed at Kannur International Airport in Kerala from Qatar on Friday, July 4.
Abdul Rehman had reportedly been absconding overseas ever since other accused linked to the case were taken into custody. The NIA had earlier declared a reward for credible information leading to the arrest of six suspects, including Abdul Rehman.
According to official sources, Abdul Rehman had fled India to evade arrest after the murder, which had sparked outrage across Karnataka and led to widespread protests demanding swift action against those responsible. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the NIA tracked Rehman’s movements abroad and coordinated with agencies to ensure his arrest immediately upon arrival at the Indian airport.
Absconder Wanted in Praveen Nettaru Murder Case Arrested by NIA on Arrival from Qatar pic.twitter.com/jqoYktY3UI
— NIA India (@NIA_India) July 4, 2025
With this latest arrest, the total number of accused charge-sheeted in the Praveen Nettaru murder case has now risen to 28. The chargesheet filed by the NIA alleges that Abdul Rehman, along with others, conspired to murder Praveen Nettaru on the instructions of leaders of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI).
Brutal killing sparked statewide outrage
Praveen Nettaru, a young and active member of the BJP Yuva Morcha, was brutally hacked to death on the night of July 26, 2022, at Bellare village in Sulya taluk of Dakshina Kannada district. His murder triggered large-scale protests and heightened communal tensions in the coastal districts, forcing the central government to hand over the investigation to the NIA on August 4, 2022.
Since then, the NIA has filed multiple chargesheets against several accused, revealing a larger conspiracy involving cadres of the PFI, which was banned by the Union government in September 2022 for alleged anti-national activities.
In its 2nd supplementary chargesheet filed before a special NIA court, the agency has named four more accused: Abdul Naseer, Naushad, Abdul Rehman, and Atiq Ahmed. While Atiq Ahmed was arrested in January this year, the other three were declared absconders. The NIA has invoked stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) along with the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against them.
Provided shelter and logistical support
The chargesheet further reveals that Abdul Naseer, Naushad, and Abdul Rehman played a key role in providing shelter and logistical assistance to the main accused. They are believed to have arranged safe hideouts for the prime conspirators in Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, and Erode districts of neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Additionally, the trio also helped an accused named Tufail to hide in Bengaluru to evade arrest.
One of the prime accused, Mustafa Paichar, was reportedly given refuge by Atiq and Kalandar — the latter now deceased — in Chennai for several months from 2022 to 2023. The chargesheet also alleges that Abdul Rehman was instrumental in planning the escape routes for other accused to flee the country. He allegedly guided Atiq and Kalandar in arranging shelter for another wanted accused named Riyaz. The investigation to trace Riyaz and other absconders is still underway.
So far, the NIA has arrested 21 people in connection with Praveen Nettaru’s murder, while six remain absconding despite extensive searches. Another accused is reported to have died. The agency has reiterated that the crackdown on the network behind Nettaru’s murder will continue and urged the public to come forward with any information related to the whereabouts of the remaining suspects.
