Charge sheet against Haris son Nalapad for attempt to murder

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police have filed the charge sheet against Mohammed Nalapad, son of Shanthinagar MLA N A Haris and six others for attempt to murder (IPC section 307) and other offences in connection with the pub attack case on February 17.

Mohammed Nalapad and his six associates had assaulted Vidwath L, son of a businessman at Farzi Cafe in UB City. The gang later followed him to Mallya Hospital, where Vidwath was admitted, and again assaulted him and his brother. The gang warned them against registering a complaint. Nalapad and his associates were absconding soon after the complaint was filed and surrendered before the police on February 19.

The charge sheet, running into 600 pages, has been submitted to the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court.

N Satheesh Kumar, joint commissioner of police (crime) said that a speedy investigation was taken up in the case. “This is a serious case hence a speedy investigation was conducted and a charge sheet was filed last week before the court,” he said.

Sources in the CCB said that an attempt-to-murder charge was proven in the investigation and all the related documents to support this have been included in the charge sheet.

Since Vidwath was not in a condition to register a complaint, his friend Praveen Venkatachalaiah had filed the complaint on his behalf. Police had earlier booked Nalapad under the IPC Sections 341 (wrongful restraint) 506 (criminal intimidation), 143 and 144 (unlawful assembly), 146 and 147 (rioting), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace).

It was later that the police included IPC section 307 for attempt to murder. The police had recorded the statement of Vidwath and 60 witnesses, including his friends and people who were at Farzi Cafe, and its staff. The police also recorded the statements of staff and doctors at Mallya Hospital and collected CCTV footage at Farzi Cafe and Mallya Hospital.

A senior police officer said that Nalapad and his associates had also confessed during the enquiry that they attacked Vidwath. CCB officials have also stated in the chargesheet that efforts were on to trace the third accused Sri Krishna in the case.

He has been absconding since the incident.

Sri Krishna has not been not using a mobile phone and it is suspected that he has fled the country. Special teams have been formed to nab him, the police have stated in the chargesheet.

Mohammed Nalapad’s bail application was rejected by the City Civil and Sessions and high court.