Shakir Hussain, the circle inspector of Shadnagar rural, who initially investigated the David Raju murder case, has been suspended by the Hyderabad Range deputy-general of police Y. Nagi Reddy. He has been charged with conducting an unfair investigation and letting an accused, the evangelist K.A. Paul, go scot-free, said K. Laxmi Reddy, superintendent of police, Mahbubnagar district.
The inspector faces an inquiry. Police last Monday arrested Paul, president of the self-styled Prajasanthi Party, along with three others in connection with the murder of Paul’s brother, David Raju. David Raju was murdered on January 30, 2010, near Mahbubnagar, 100 km from Hyderabad, by Koteswar Rao, who had been hired by K.A. Paul. Koteswar Rao allegedly confessed to his role in the murder to the police after he fell out with Paul over payment of money.
Paul had allegedly promised Rao Rs 50 lakh for the murder, and paid Rs 5 lakh as advance. He, however, failed to pay the balance. Paul complained to the police that he was being threatened by Rao, and the police took the latter into custody. It was during his interrogation that Rao spilled the beans about the murder contract.
When he came to know of Rao’s confession, Paul offered the investigating officer, Ongole taluk circle inspector Srinivasa Rao, a bribe of Rs 1 crore for not filing a case and also for handing Rao over to him. Though the murder took place under the Addakal police station limits of the Kothakota circle, the case was handed over to the Jadcherla circle inspector Shakir Hussain, which too attracted criticism.
Solomon Raju, son of David Raju, said that he had apprised the then district SP Sudheer Babu of K.A. Paul’s involvement in the murder of his father, but initially he (Solomon) was framed in the case. Sudheer Babu, who is now deputy commissioner of police in the Cyberabad police commissionerate, declined to comment on the issue.