Udupi: Three Accused in AKMS Saif Murder Case Remanded to Six-Day Police Custody
In a significant development in the AKMS Saif murder case, three individuals accused of killing Saifuddin Atradi, a bus owner and alleged rowdy-sheeter also known as Saif, have been remanded to police custody for six days. The murder took place on Saturday at a residence in Kodavuru Salmara, under the jurisdiction of the Malpe Police.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Faisal Khan, Mohammad Shareef, and Abdul Shukoor (also known as Addu), were presented before the Udupi Senior Civil Judge and CJM Court under tight security. The case’s investigating officer, Malpe Police Circle Inspector Ramachandra Nayak, oversaw their presentation.
During the court proceedings, the investigating officers requested a 10-day police custody period to further probe the circumstances surrounding Saifuddin Atradi’s death. However, Judge Purushottam ordered a six-day remand for the accused, with a follow-up hearing scheduled for October 4. The police have since taken the accused into custody for further questioning and interrogation.
A key focus of the investigation is to determine whether the three accused acted alone or received assistance from others. Authorities are exploring possible personal motives behind the murder and investigating whether it was a contract killing. SP Hariram Shankar confirmed that the inquiry is ongoing and that all potential leads are being pursued.
Preliminary investigations suggest that only the three accused were present at the crime scene. However, law enforcement is probing whether they received financial support or if other accomplices were involved in planning and executing the murder.
Notably, two of the accused, Shareef and Shukoor, had a prior connection with Saifuddin, having been implicated in a separate murder case in 2020. The third accused, Faisal Khan, was reportedly a close aide of Saifuddin, managing his operations and serving as his driver. Allegedly, Faisal Khan drove Shareef and Shukoor to Saifuddin’s Kodavuru residence in the victim’s vehicle, where they attacked and killed him using rods and machetes.
SP Hariram Shankar stated that initial findings indicate the murder was premeditated. “This was not a crime of passion stemming from an argument. It’s clear the murder was planned,” he said. He added that two of the accused had allegedly hidden at Saifuddin’s second residence, waiting for an opportune moment to carry out the killing when the premises were unoccupied.
The police are currently focused on verifying the reasons provided by the accused for the crime and assessing their validity through rigorous scrutiny. ASP Shankar emphasized that the investigation will determine the truth behind these claims. The case remains under active investigation as authorities work to uncover the full details of Saifuddin Atradi’s murder.
