In what can be called a major development in Prashant Poojary's murder case, the Karnataka fisheries minister has refuted the family's allegations that he was involved in Prashant's murder after he was found in a photograph with the main accused in the case. 

Karnataka fisheries minister and a Congress member, Abhayachandra Jain was seen in the photograph with Mohammed Sharif Todar, the main accused in the case and a PFI member. It was taken at a blood donation camp that was organized by Popular Front of India (PFI) on March 22 this year.

After seeing the picture, Poojary's family questioned whether it was right for a Karnataka minister to share the dais with a person who is from an anti-social organization.

Following this, Prashant’s family, President of Bajrang Dal, and BJP leader J Adhikari are demanding a ban on Popular Front of India as it is involved in anti-social activities.

However, Jain refuted the allegations, said NewsX. He said that as a minister he visits many functions in the state and that it was not right to accuse him of being involved in a criminal case.

Speaking to NewsX, Poojary's mother said that the family suspects Jain's involvement in the murder as he had not come to meet the family since Prashant's death. "Prominent ministers from New Delhi had come, whereas a minister who is not too far from Moodabidri had not bothered to come," she said.

On October 9, 29-year-old Prashant Poojary, a flower seller, Bajrang dal member and a Hindutva activist from Moodabidri, a town in Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka, was stabbed by six motorcycle-borne men.

Police have arrested eight people accused in the case so far and Mangaluru police chief S Murugan said that communal grudge could be a reason.