Cops killed advocate, his mentor suspects

OUTRAGED: Naushad was a brilliant lawyer and the police hated him, his legal guru Purushoththam Poojary (far right) tells Panambur police inspector Mukri yesterday. PIC/DAYANAND KUKKAJE


It was the police, and not any gangster, who murdered advocate Naushad Kasimji, Mangalore's top criminal lawyer alleged yesterday.

Kasimji (37), who had appeared in court to defend D-Company sharpshooter Rashid Malbari, was killed on Thursday in his apartment car park.

"The police killed my boy," said Ku00a0 Purushoththam Poojary, who had been mentoring Naushad for many years.

The police have filed an FIR on the basis of his complaint.

Five cops named
Poojary has namedu00a0 Venkateshu00a0 Prasanna, circle inspector in the Districtu00a0 Crime and Intelligence Bureau, Jayanth Shetty, deputy commissioner of police, Shivaprakash, sub-inspector, and Valentine D'Souza, circle inspector, as the main accused.

"My boy wasu00a0 brilliant, and could quote any judgment from any high court," said Pooary. "He had a fantastic memory and could remember things he had read just once".

Naushad had argued for victims of police atrocities, and the police held that against him, Poojary alleged.

Poojary has groomed scores of lawyers. He is respected for his deep knowledge of criminal jurisprudence. His practice spans 55 years.

Police threat
Police had told Naushad he would argue no more after he had sought bail for Rashid Malbari on Thursday, Poojary told reporters.

That threat was allegedly made just outside the court.
u00a0
Police had been tracking Naushad and knew he would go to Bhatkal on Friday for a wedding. The killers were equipped with the information that he would be alone in his apartment, Poojary said.

Considering the threat to his life, Poojary had invited Naushad to stay with him that night, but the younger lawyer had insisted on going home.

Hacked, not shot
Poojary also disputed the police claim that Naushad had died of bullet wounds.

"I have seen his bodyu00c3u0083u00c2u00a2u00c3u0082u00c2u0080u00c3u0082u00c2u00a6 his neck was slashed with a sword," he said.

He didn't believe a word of what was reported about gangster Ravi Poojary, who reportedly claimed to a television channel that his boys had finished Naushad off.

"What motive did he have to kill him?" Poojary wondered.

An emotional Poojary blamed the ruling BJP for what had happened to Naushad. "He was a genius," he said.

Inspector-general of police Gopal Hosur told MiD DAY the police had registered the complaint but had yet to find any evidence to support Poojary's charge.