TNN
Bangalore, Jun 11: The state government informed the Karnataka high court on Wednesday that it would place before it all information with regard to the
investigation into the recent killing of advocate Naushad Kasim on the outskirts of Mangalore, by June 17.
Advocate general Udaya Holla told the court that the police are investigating the case and there are reports that some underworld men have claimed responsibility for the killing. He added the government would present all information by next week.
"The incident took place in April. It's now almost two months and no effective investigation seems to have taken place. How many people have been apprehended? If it happens to a practising advocate, then what is the plight of the common man? But we want an impartial investigation. We have complete faith in the state administration. There is no need to go outside the state (external agency). You (AG) should assist the court. Press reports indicate there are allegations about police involvement. You (government) need not defend them, let them (police officers) engage their own,'' the division bench headed by Chief Justice P D Dinakaran observed before adjourning the hearing.
The court had treated the April 21 letter addressed to Chief Justice P D Dinakaran by South India Cell for Human Rights, Education and Monitoring (SICHREM) as a PIL and had ordered notices to Jayant Shetty, DySP of Crime Records, police officers Venkatesh Prasanna, M Shiva Prasad and Valentine D'Souza.
Naushad Kasim, a criminal lawyer who was defending Rashid Malabari who owed allegiance to Chota Shakeel, was done to death on April 10 in a shootout. His senior Purushotham Poojary has stated that police are behind his death. Naushad had appeared as defence counsel for Atul Rao in the Padmapriya case and also in BJP leader Sukhanand Shetty murder case as a defence lawyer. This has irked state authorities. There are allegations that the police are acting as the Sangh Parivar's extended hand. In this backdrop, the situation needs to be remedied," SICHREM stated and sought the judiciary's intervention.