Advocate’s Killing Sparks Outrage Over Delay in Arrests
Hyderabad: It has been five days since Khaja Moizuddin, a senior lawyer fighting against encroachment of Waqf lands, was killed under the guise of a road accident, but the two prime suspects accused Mujahid Alam Khan and his father Mahabub Alam Khan have not been arrested till date.
Moizuddin was hit by an SUV at 5.45am on May 23. Moizuddin, who was seriously injured, died in the hospital where he was taken at 12.12 the same day. Nampally police changed the charges against the SUV driver from attempted murder. On May 24, police claimed to have picked the father-son duo from Bengaluru and brought them to Abid’s ACP office for questioning. “Since then, the police have been giving VIP treatment to the conspirators,” said AIMIM MLA Mohd Majid Hussain.
Police officials confirmed Deccan Chronicle The two main suspects said that the suspects were brought to the police station every day and were released in the evening without affecting their arrest. Telangana DGP Resume Anand on Tuesday said that there is no political angle involved in Moizuddin’s murder and Hyderabad police commissioner VC Sajjanar will share full details of the case soon. However, so far the city police have not given an official briefing on the murder and the progress of the investigation, nor have they arrested the father-son duo.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Telangana Bar Council Council member V. Raghunath said: “The death of lawyer Moizuddin was a targeted killing. It is not an accident. He was killed to stop his fight against encroachment of Waqf lands. I demand an immediate investigation by an SIT and immediate arrest of all the accused.”
Raghunath said the victim’s family was facing serious threats from the accused but no protection was provided to Moinuddin’s son MS Farhan and his family.
Supreme Court lawyer Sadat Siddiqui criticized the police for not making the status of the case public despite collecting strong evidence against the accused.
“Police have strong evidence against Mujahid and Mahbub following the confession of SUV driver Vinay Goud, a member of ‘Supari Gang’, that Mujahid had offered Rs 10 crore of land to eliminate the senior lawyer. There is also documentary evidence to show that the SUV used in the murder was sold and bought back in the name of a member of the Alam family six months ago.”
The murder shook the legal fraternity and caused widespread public outrage. Various associations representing lawyers, including the Supreme Court Bar Association, Telangana High Court legal fraternity and other lawyers’ bodies, condemned the incident. “Lawyers refrained from court work on May 25 as a protest and show of solidarity, but there has been no official confirmation from the police force yet,” Siddiqui said.
“The police should have issued an official press note as soon as possible explaining the status of the case, the role of each accused and whether the accused has been arraigned in court, placed in police custody or in judicial custody,” he said.
Another prominent member of the Bar Council said the murder of a lawyer who was reportedly pursuing sensitive foundation-related cases raises serious concerns about the safety of lawyers, the rule of law and the ability of citizens to fight powerful interests through legal means.
“A fair investigation does not require silence, it requires legal transparency. An official status document will not harm the investigation. On the contrary, it will restore public confidence and show that the case is being handled without delay, pressure or compromise,” he said.
The Bar Council member also insisted that the state government and the Telangana Waqf Board should break its silence on larger allegations regarding waqf properties and educational institutions such as Anwar-ul-Uloom College, Mumtaz Yar-ud-Daula/Mumtaz College and Madrasa-e-Aiza linked to Mahbub Alam Khan and Mujahid Alam Khan.
