Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Apr 20: In a significant verdict delivered on Saturday, the First Additional District and Sessions Court in Mangaluru sentenced three men to life imprisonment for the brutal double murder of their friends over a financial dispute linked to gold smuggling.

Judge Mallikarjuna Swamy H S pronounced the sentence against Mohammed Muhajir Sanaf (35), A Mohammed Irshad (34), and A Mohammed Safwan (34), finding them guilty of murdering Nafir Ahmed (24) from Thalassery and Fahim from Kozhikode on July 1, 2014. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 each under Section 302 of the IPC, with an additional six months of simple imprisonment in case of default.

The case dates back to a smuggling operation where Nafir had illegally brought over three kilograms of gold from Dubai. Defying instructions from the original smuggler, he traveled to Goa and, with the help of his friend Fahim, sought to sell the gold independently. Fahim roped in Sanaf, Irshad, and Safwan for assistance. The gold was reportedly sold for over Rs 73 lac. However, disputes over the proceeds turned deadly, culminating in the murder of both Nafir and Fahim.

Apart from the life sentences under Section 302, the court also sentenced the trio to three years of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 each under Section 201 r/w 34 of IPC for destroying evidence. In case of non-payment, an additional two months’ simple imprisonment will be imposed.

Furthermore, they were each fined Rs 10,000 under Section 120B of IPC (criminal conspiracy), with a default sentence of three months’ simple imprisonment.

The court ordered all sentences to run concurrently. The accused are also entitled to set-off under Section 428 of the CrPC for the time they have already served as undertrial prisoners.