I have been convicted for being Muslim, says Malabari; threatens Venkatesh Prasanna

Mangalore, Aug 29: Rasheed Malabari, an alleged gangster and associate of underworld operative Chota Shakeel has said that he has been convicted only because he belongs to Muslim community.

Speaking to media persons, after the Court pronounced its verdict, Malabari said that Courts too are influenced by the RSS and the Bajrang Dal. “Though there were no adequate evidences against me, the Court has convicted me. I will question this verdict at the High Court. I suppose HC will not be influenced by the Saffron wings,” said Malabari playing the 'victimised for being Muslim' card.

Expressing confidence that the verdict at the High Court will be in his favour, he said that it was solely due to Mangalore CCB Inspector Venkatesh Prasanna's conspiracy that he had been convicted.

Malabari has openly proclaimed to avenge the same, following which Venkatesh Prasanna has filed a complaint with Mangalore North (Bunder) police stating that Malabari has openly threatened him.

However, sensing that Malabari's reaction and open threat to Mr Prasanna could cause further trouble, Malabari's advocate Purushottam Poojary has said that Malabari must have made some statements out of pain and disappointment after the court convicted him. “This statement cannot be counted as threat and this will not even stand in the Court,” said Mr Poojary responding to the complaint filed by Mr Prasanna.

The punishment

District Sessions Court has imposed five years of rigorous imprisonment to Malabari and his close aide Mohammad Hashim for possessing weapons illegally. The Court has pronounced the punishment on Thursday.

However, Malabari and Hashim's advocate Purushottam Poojary has argued that the weapons possessed by them were not illegal and hence the punishment could only be for three years. He had further said that the duo was arrested in 2009 and since then the two had served four and half years of jail. Hence they could be released after five months.

It may be recalled that a DCIB team led by Venkatesh Prasanna had nabbed Malabari and his aides at Chattanchal in Kasargod on March 26, 2009 and seized 9mm pistol and bullets from them.

The DCIB had plunged into action on receiving information that Malabari and his aides had kidnapped a businessman and extracted ransom of Rs 5 crore from him. The money thus procured was to be used by the gang to plot the killings of Varun Gandhi and Pramodh Muthalik.

The cops thus stopped a car plying on NH-66 at Talapady and nabbed Sayaf, Mohommad Hashim and Ibrahim. The pistol and bullets were in possession of Hashim.

Based on the information revealed by Hashim the police nabbed Malabari from Chattamchal in Kasargod along with a US made auto pistol, Chinese currency, passports of various countries, mobile sim cards and various other commodities.

Malabari is facing charges several murder charges, including Chota Rajan's murder attempt in 2002 in Bangkok.