Mangaluru: The hearing of the anticipatory bail plea of Naresh Shenoy, Prime Accused in RTI Activist Vinayak Baliga murder case has been posted to June 1 by the High Court of Karnataka.

It is said that after the petitioner advocate T Prakash withdrew from the case, Shyam Sundar has been appointed on behalf of Shenoy, who had requested for time to study the case. The HC has hence fixed the bail plea hearing on June 1.

Meanwhile, a close associate of Shenoy, identified as Manjunath Shenoy alias Manju Neereshwalya, a photographer by profession, who was nabbed by Sunday, was granted bail on Monday, May 30.

He was facing charge of harbouring Naresh Shenoy. Police had arrested Manju on Sunday, at 1 pm and book him under Sec 302, 212 R/w 34 of IPC for murder and harbouring an office. He was produced to the II JMFC court at 2pm. K. Manujanth Shenoy, alias Manju Neereshwalya, is already released from Police custody according to Rajesh Amtady, Advocate in the office of P.P.Hedge who appeared and argued on behalf of Manjunath Shenoy.

Police, in a press note, said that Manju Neereshwalya was in constant touch with Naresh Shenoy, whom the police wanted to question in connection with the murder. The police said that Manju Neereshwalya was informing Naresh Shenoy of the developments in the case and helping him hide.

It may be recalled that Vinayak Baliga was hacked to death near his house in Kodialbail on March 21. Police have arrested Vineet Poojary, Nishit Devadiga, Shiva, alias Shivaprasad, and Shailesh (40) in connection with this case.