Kochi: After seven years of incarceration, the Kasaragod Sessions Court acquitted all three accused in the murder case of Mohammed Riyas Maulavi, a 34-year-old muezzin and madrasa teacher from Kasaragod. The acquitted individuals, identified as S Ajesh, N Akhilesh, and S Nithin, were activists associated with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and residents of Kelugude in Kasaragod town.
The verdict, delivered by Judge Balakrishnan K K, pronounced the trio not guilty, ending their prolonged legal battle. Riyas Maulavi, hailing from Karnataka's Kodagu area, served as the muezzin of the Muhayuddin Juma Masjid at Choori and taught at the Issathul Islam Madrasa.
Advocate Binu Kulammakad, representing the accused, criticized the police investigation, alleging bias from the outset. He stated that the accused had no prior association with the victim and were unfamiliar with the crime scene. Additionally, attorney T Sunil Kumar accused the prosecution of tampering with evidence and failing to substantiate the charges against the defendants.
The defence highlighted discrepancies in the investigation, pointing out lapses in the handling of crucial evidence such as alleged murder weapons and clothing. They contested the prosecution's narrative, questioning the authenticity of the crime scene reconstruction.
The incident, occurring on the night of March 20-21, 2017, witnessed intruders breaking into the mosque compound and fatally stabbing Riyas Maulavi after he opened his door. The murder, characterized by its brutality and apparent lack of motive, heightened communal tensions in Kasaragod.
In response to the incident, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) called for a strike, and a special investigation team led by A Srinivas, then Kannur Crime Branch Superintendent of Police, was appointed to probe the case.
The arrest of the accused, aged between 19 and 25, followed swiftly, with the police attributing the crime to communal animosity. However, the defence challenged this assertion, emphasizing the absence of any personal connection between the perpetrators and the victim.
Despite the submission of a comprehensive chargesheet within the stipulated ninety-day period, the accused remained incarcerated, denied bail due to the gravity of the charges. Legal proceedings were further marred by delays attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and judicial transfers.
The acquittal of the accused marks the culmination of a protracted legal battle, underscoring the importance of meticulous investigation and adherence to due process in ensuring justice for all parties involved.
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