Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 29: Relating to the murder of young advocate Naushad Kashimji on Falnir Road in the city on April 9 this year, senior advocate Purushottam Poojary has filed a private complaint against four police officers in the Junior Magistrate First Class (JMFC) second court here.

In the complaint, he has shown district crime intelligence bureau inspector Venkatesh Prasanna, deputy superintendent of police Jayant Shetty, Ullal sub-inspector of police Shivaprakash and Panambur inspector Valentine D'Souza as the accused. As the policemen have already arrested 12 people in connection with the said murder, Poojary has requested the court to treat the above four policemen as the accused No. 13 to 16.

87-year-old Poojary explained, that while arguing on behalf of Rashid Malbari, a close associate of Chota Rajan, advocate Naushad had informed the court that the life of Malbari was under threat from the policemen and urged the court to treat this charge with all seriousness. The judge had immediately taken the police officers to task and directed them to interrogate Malbari only in the presence of Naushad. The policemen, angered by this development, killed Naushad, Poojary has alleged in the complaint. Along with the complaint, he has enclosed records running into 260 pages.

It may be recalled, that inspector general of police (western range) Gopal Hosur had earlier threatened to file a defamation suit against Poojary for leveling murder charge against the police officers in the case. Undeterred by this threat, Poojary has gone ahead and filed a private complaint now. It may be recalled, that the High Court had dismissed a writ petition filed by South India Cell for Human Rights, Education and Monitoring against the policemen, in this case.