Gangster Ravi Pujari acquitted in 2001 shootout and murder of B'luru builder
Bengaluru, Aug 21: A special court here has acquitted international gangster Ravi Pujari in the 2001 shootout and murder of a city-based builder.
The Special Court judge in the judgement delivered on August 18 said, "There is no evidence before this court to prove beyond reasonable doubt that prior to January 5, 2001, Ravi Pujari conspired with the other accused to kill the builder."
It was alleged that Poojari conspired with seven others and supplied "one 0.9 mm pistol, one 0.38 revolver and live bullets in a gift packet through Hawala," to two other accused, who carried out the shooting of Subbaraju.
Subbaraju was murdered at his office in Seshadripuram in the presence of his two sons, who are the prime witness in the case. Subbaraju had allegedly refused to backdown from the purchase of a prime property in Bengaluru despite threats from Muthappa Rai, an underworld figure then operating from Dubai.
Police alleged that Rai along with Pujari, and others conspired to eliminate Subbaraju. Yusuf Bachkana and Nitin Sawant were the two shooters who carried out the murder.
In the trial, Rai, and four others were acquitted by the court for lack of evidence. Only Bachkana was sentenced to life. Pujari was extradited to India from Senegal in 2020 and a split charge sheet was filed against him in the same case.
The police also presented 14 witnessed and 78 documents to prove their case.
"On March 10, 2020, Yogendra Kumar, Police Inspector, Vyalikaval Police Station, Bengaluru has recorded the confessional statement of accused No.2, while accused no. 2 (Pujari) was in police custody," the trial court noted.
This was the only additional evidence against Pujari that the police submitted before the trial court. During the examination Pujari denied all charges. The confession before the police is not admissible in court, it was pointed out. The court found all the charges against Pujari; criminal conspiracy, conspiracy for murder, attempt to murder and under the Arms Act could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt.
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Two arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting woman at knifepoint in Kochi
Kochi (PTI): Two persons have been arrested after a three-member gang allegedly sexually assaulted a woman at knifepoint near Ernakulam Junction Railway station, officials said on Friday.
The arrested accused were identified as Danish (26), a native of Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district, and Rahul (39), a native of Paravoor in Kollam district.
Police officials said they were searching for the prime accused, Sanjay, a native of Aroor in Alappuzha district.
According to police, the incident occurred on the night of May 5 when the victim was chatting with her friend near a closed hotel near Ernakulam Junction Railway station.
Officials said the accused approached them, attacked the victim’s friend and then allegedly threatened the woman with a knife before sexually assaulting her.
Police said the accused also allegedly disrobed the victim during the attack.
However, the woman managed to escape from the spot and approached a nearby shop for help.
Police were informed immediately and shifted the victim to the police station.
Officials said the accused were heavily drunk at the time of the incident and went into hiding soon after the attack.
Police registered a case on May 6 under charges including rape, disrobing a woman, criminal intimidation and robbery.
The two accused were later arrested in the city, while efforts are continuing to trace Sanjay, police said.
The accused were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.
