Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)
Udupi, Jun 18: The Udupi district and sessions court on Monday June 18 granted bail to two of the arrested persons in connection to the death of cattle trader Hussainabba. Another accused who is still absconding was granted anticipatory bail.
Accused head constable Mohan Kotwal and Bajrang Dal activist Prasad Kondady were given bail, while Tukaram, another Bajrang Dal activist who is still at large, was given anticipatory bail.
Tukaram, though not directly involved in the crime, is alleged to have helped the other accused dispose off Hussainabba's body.
Hussainabba
Bail applications of the other eight arrested - Suspended Hiriadka SI D N Kumar, police jeep driver Gopal, VHP leader Suresh Mendon alias Suri, who is the main accused, Umesh Shetty, Ratan, Chetan alias Chetan Acharya, Shailesh Shetty and Ganesh - were rejected. They will be in judicial custody till June 28.
Hussainabba (61) died after he was brutally assaulted by Bajrang Dal activists in the presence of Hiriadka police at Perdoor in the wee hours of May 30. The activists and the police had waylaid his vehicle for allegedly trafficking cattle. The police along with the activists had even tried to cover up the crime by dumping Hussainabba's body in Perdoor. The post-mortem report has revealed that Hussainabba died of head injuries.
Hiriadka SI D N Kumar, head constable Mohan Kotwal, police jeep driver Gopal are being represented in the court by lawyers Shantaram Shetty, Vijaykumar Shetty and M Sanjeeva. Lawyer Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde, who is the also the district BJP president, is the counsel for main accused VHP leader Suresh Mendon alias Suri and the other Bajrang Dal activists.
Meanwhile, the CID team which is investigating the case arrived in Udupi on Monday. The 11-member team is led by CID DySP Chandrashekar. The team visited Hiriadka police station and the crime spot to gather information.