High Court dismisses appeal for CBI probe into Naushad Khasimji’s death

High Court dismisses appeal for CBI probe into Naushad Khasimji’s death

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Sep 14, 2012 : The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday dismissed a plea for a CBI probe into the role of four policemen in the murder of Naushad Khasimji, advocate for human rights.

 

Khasimji was shot dead outside his apartment in Mangalore on April 9, 2009. Allegedly, he was being threatened by four policemen who did not want him to defend Rashid Malbari, an associate of Chota Shakeel.

Purushottam Poojary, senior of Khasimji, had lodged a complaint with the Pandeshwar police, in which he accused the four policemen of having a role to play in the murder. When the investigation led nowhere, Nusrath Jahan, wife of Khasimji, appealed to the High Court to order a CBI probe in the murder of her husband and especially investigate the role of DySP Jayanth Shetty, PSI Shivaprakash, and Inspectors Valentine D’Souza and Prasanna in the murder.

A single division bench, under the leadership of A. S. Bopanna, ruled that there is no need for a CBI probe in the role of the four policemen in the murder of Khasimji.

Earlier, Justice Mohan Shantanagouda had directed that the CBI should investigate the case. The state government appealed against this order in the High Court, which dismissed the plea for a CBI probe.

A division bench headed by B. V. Nagarathna and Vikramjit Sen observed that Justice Shantangoudar’s order was “not in detail” and also that this is not the type of case referred to the CBI. They then referred the case to Justice Bopanna, who delivered the above verdict.