Mumbai: Dreaded killer is frequent guest at Juhu police station, say sources

Azam Aslam Butt, the accused (in red shirt), inside Juhu police station with unidentified men

Azam Aslam Butt, a murder convict who is wanted by Nalasopara police in a forgery case, is a frequent guest at the Juhu police station and visits the officers there every week, said sources. During his visit last week, Butt recorded a video of himself and two other unidentified men in front of a wall, which has photos of personnel killed in the 26/11 terror attack, sources added. Juhu police, however, denied having any knowledge of Butt's visits to the police station.

"We don't have any knowledge about Azam Butt visiting Juhu police station. Butt is an accused [in murder case] at Oshiwara police station and resides under the Santacruz police station jurisdiction," said Shashikant Mane, senior inspector at Juhu police station. According to sources, Butt has a flat in posh Ashiyana society at Juhu. However, the police record has the address of his Santacruz residence.

Butt had been sentenced to life for murdering one Kashinath Gharat in 2005. He was lodged in Nagpur jail but was released in May last year over Covid-19 precautions. Earlier this month, Kashinath's family alleged that Butt has been threatening to kill them.

The family had also revealed the findings of an RTI query, according to which Butt had forged witness papers to secure bail in the murder case in 2016. Nalasopara police had filed an FIR, but never took any action. Kashinath's family approached the deputy commissioner of police (DCP) of Nalasopara in August, following which the probe was finally started.

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‘Butt roams freely'

However, Butt has not been arrested yet. Speaking with mid-day, Kashinath's brother Vishwanath said, "Butt is roaming freely and threatening us. He should be behind bars. Nalasopara police are supporting him."

"I joined this police station one month ago and don't have any knowledge of this case. I will check the records and revert," Vilas Supe, senior inspector at Nalasopara police station, told mid-day.

Prashant Wagunde, DCP, Nalasopara division, said, "Butt is a wanted accused at Nalasopara police station and we are in search of him. A few days back our team had gone to his Santacruz residence but he was unavailable.

"In the forgery case, we have recorded the statement of a retired police officer, who was on duty when the incident happened. He told police that he wasn't involved in the crime and that some unknown officer forged his signature and helped Butt. Once Butt is arrested, all truth will come out. We will arrest him soon."

Another forgery instance

After getting bail in 2016, Butt lived under the Shivaji Nagar police station jurisdiction. He was instructed to visit the station daily and never leave the area without prior notice. Initially he visited the police station and reported to the head constable Y R Nangare, and maintained his entries in a diary. However, after Nangare's transfer, he forged his signature in the diary. The incident was reported and Nangare's statement was also recorded, but no FIR was registered.