Advocate Naushad Kasim murder case: Sessions court convicts five

Advocate Naushad Kasim murder case: Sessions court convicts five

www.mangaloretoday.com

Mangaluru, Nov 25, 2015: Mangaluru’s third additional district and Sessions court on November 25 Wednesday convicted five Ravi Poojary associates in the sensational murder of advocate Naushad Kashimji. Two others have been aquitted. The punishment will be pronounced on Thursday.

Naushad, who trained under fearless advocate Purushothama Poojary, was shot dead near his apartment at Falnir on April 9, 2009.

Police charge sheeted against Dinesh Shetty of Nayataru Village in Beltangady taluk, Ritesh alias Reetu and Ganesh, residents of Kodikal in the city, Pratap Shetty from Kavoor, Subrahmanya from Kadri, Shivprakash and Ravi Shukwani. Two other accused - Shivprakash and Ravi Shukwani - were acquitted on Wednesday. All other five are found guilty of criminal act and the quantum of punishment will be pronounced on the open court on Thursday by third additional district and Sessions court judge Pushpanjali Devi.

At the time of the arrest, the police had said that they were associates of underworld element Ravi Poojary. Altogether, 72 witnesses were examined in the case. Narayana Sherigar was the public prosecutor. The five accused were convicted under IPC sections 302, 201, 120 B, 34, and under Arms Acts sections 3, 25 and 27.

Kasim’s senior advocate Purushottam Poojary, had filed a complaint in Pandeshwar police station alleging collusion of four police officers in the murder case. He also demanded enquiry by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and move a case in the High Court. Following the statement of prosecution stating that the investigation in the case was in its final stage and culprits were already arrested. The case against the four police officers was also dismissed by the high court.

Mangalore based human right activist Naushad Kasim was acclaimed for his professional skills. His hometown is Bhatkal. After graduating from Sri Dharmasthala Manjunateshwara Law College he had enrolled as a lawyer in 1999. He was working as a junior with criminal advocate Purushotham Poojary. He practiced both in Mangalore and Udupi district courts.

Kasim had independently argued on behalf of Atul Rao, prime accused in the unnatural death case of Padmapriya, wife of Udupi MLA K Raghupathi Bhat.

Kasim became the wrath of underworld element Ravi Poojary after he had appeared on behalf of Rashid Malbari, a close associate of Dawood Ibrahim.