Court rejects plea of two in guard murder

Mumbai: A sessions court in Dindoshi has refused to grant bail to two accused who were arrested for allegedly murdering of a guard near Powai Lake. The prosecution has claimed that four guards were on night duty to prevent people from fishing in the lake. When guards noticed a few persons fishing in Powai lake, they stopped them following which the accused stabbed one of them and pushed him in the lake. The accused also threatened two other guards, asking them not to help him as a result of which he died after drowning. The guard’s body was recovered from the lake next day.

Tabrez alias Tabbu Khan and Salim Siddiqui had moved bail application contending that they have been falsely implicated in the case. The accused claimed, “Inves-tigation in the matter is over, and chargesheet has been filed against the accused, and there are no grounds for custodial interrogation, and hence they should be released on bail.”

The prosecution opposed the bail application, saying that “the crime is serious and both the accused are history-sheeters. They have created terror in Filterpada area in Powai. There is every possibility that they would tamper with the evidence”.

Public prosecutor informed the court that in the night of April 17, 2017, four persons, including deceased Shoeb Khan, on duty of guarding Powai lake were patrolling in two different boats.

After hearing arguments, the sessions court judge rejected the bail application observing that the act was brutal and accused prevented other from helping victim so it cannot be said that there was no intention to kill the victim.