HYDERABAD: A murder eyewitness, working for a ride-sharing aggregator, travelled over 700 kilometres from Srikakulam to Hyderabad on two occasions to tell the court about the murder of Dalit man Billipuram Nagaraju, which took place in full public view on the night of May 4, 2022.
The witness told the court that when he was returning after dropping a passenger, he saw two persons attacking a man who was on a bike. He also identified the duo in the test identification parade and the court hall, eventually resulting in the both accused, Syed Mobin Ahmed and his brother-in-law Mohammed Masood Ahmed, being awarded life sentences.
Another eyewitness who runs a tea stall near the place of the murder identified the two attackers as having a beard and also told the court how the two killed Nagaraju.
Further, a degree student, a private employee on his way to meet his friends and a realtor returning home from office, also detailed to the court how the accused killed Nagaraju, and identified them during the identification parade and in the court hall. They admitted that they did not attempt to rescue Nagaraju, as the accused had weapons with them.
The eyewitnesses withstood a tough cross-examination, but were consistent and did not retreat from their evidence.”
Two more individuals, who received the gory videos of the murder through social media platforms, also volunteered to support the case and were deposed in the court. Footage from CCTV at a chicken centre and a car dealer located near the scene of the offence also turned out to be a crucial piece of evidence against the accused.
The final verdict was delivered in a record time as a result of a “foolproof investigation”.
P Sridhar Reddy, former ACP of LB Nagar, the investigating officer (IO) in the case, told Deccan Chronicle that the first step was to ensure that the accused did not get bail, as there were chances of them influencing the witnesses. “They attempted for bail on four occasions since their arrest but it was countered on proper grounds and the court denied their bail,” he said.
The High Court designating a fast-track court for regular and expeditious trials also helped in getting the final verdict in record time. “All those associated with the investigation and the trial, made every effort in getting this conviction,” he said.
