By The Hindu Bureau
The second Additional District and Sessions Court, Mangaluru, on June 30, rejected bail applications of three more accused arrested in connection with the mob lynching of 38-year-old rag picker Mohammed Ashraf in Kudupu, on the outskirts of Mangaluru on April 28.
The Judge V.N. Jagadeesh has rejected bail applications of T. Sachin, 26, Manjunatha, 32, and Natesh Kumar, 33, all from Thiruvail, near Kudupu. Sachin is Accused No.1, while Manjunatha and Kumar were Accused Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, in the case.
In separate judgments, the Judge took note of the report of the investigation officer (IO), which said all the accused, including the three petitioners, had assaulted Ashraf mercilessly by stripping him naked. The presence of the petitioners and other accused persons at the place of the incident was captured in photographs and video. They were verified by police using call records of accused persons, the IO stated.
The Judge said the IO has to take some of the accused persons into police custody for further investigation. Police have to collect other evidence to reach a logical conclusion. The material placed on record indicated the involvement of the petitioners and showed a prima facie case against the accused persons.
Taking into consideration the gravity and seriousness of the offence, the Judge said he was rejecting the bail applications of the three petitioners.
The Judge had earlier rejected the bail application of eight accused persons, while granting bail to five accused persons. A total of 21 persons were arrested in the case.