New Delhi/Udupi: The Supreme Court, August 10, denied bail to the accused trio in the sensational murder case of hotelier Bhaskar Shetty.

The apex court denied bail to wife Rajeshwari, son Navneeth and astrologer Niranjan Bhat till such time the investigations come to an end. The court directed the accused to file a bail petition, if the investigations remain inconclusive even after six months.

The accused had moved High Court (HC) earlier seeking bail. After the state high court dismissed their bail application, they approached the apex court for reprieve. However, SC too has denied them bail, probably considering the nature of crime.

Bhaskar Shetty, a NRI businessman, who owned big businesses in Saudi Arabia and Udupi, went missing from his house here on July 28 last year and his mother Gulabi Shetty lodged a missing complaint at the Manipal police station on July 29, 2016. The police arrested Rajeshwari (50), Navneet (20) and young astrologer Niranajan Bhat on the charge of murdering Bhaskar Shetty and destroying evidence later. During the investigations, it was found that Bhaskar Shetty was burnt to death. The DNA samples have also proven that the bones found were that of Bhaskar Shetty.