Court Approves Charges in 2024 Ribandar Police Escape Case

A court in Merces has officially ruled that charges will be framed against three individuals linked to the dramatic escape of Suleman Mohammed Khan from the Ribandar police station in 2023. The individuals facing charges include Khan, sentry guard Amit Naik, and Hazrat Bavannavar, who is from Hubballi. This development occurred on January 23, 2024, as the prosecution outlined a conspiracy that facilitated the escape.

The prosecution alleges that Khan, while in custody of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating land-grab cases, orchestrated a planned escape with the help of Naik. It is claimed that Naik, who was assigned as the lock-up sentry, deliberately violated his duties by removing Khan from custody instead of securing him. The two reportedly fled the police station on Naik’s motorcycle, ultimately taking Khan to Hubballi.

Further complicating matters, the prosecution contends that Bavannavar knowingly aided Khan post-escape. He is accused of providing shelter and transportation in his car, with the intention of helping Khan evade arrest, despite being aware of the circumstances surrounding Khan’s departure from police custody.

Khan’s defence, led by advocate D. Dhond, refuted these allegations, asserting that his client believed he was being transferred for official investigative purposes. Dhond emphasized that Khan had no intention of absconding, noting that he later surrendered voluntarily to authorities. The defence also questioned the legality of Khan’s detention, arguing that a charge of escape cannot be sustained unless the individual was lawfully detained. Dhond pointed out that the police had removed Khan from the lock-up, which he claimed negated the possibility of an escape from legal custody.

In response, assistant public prosecutor H. Ghate argued that there is sufficient evidence to support the conspiracy charge against all three individuals. He maintained that the awareness and intent of the accused should be determined during the trial, rather than at this preliminary stage.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Sarika N. Fal Dessai sided with the prosecution’s position, asserting that there is prima facie evidence on record. She stated that the court’s role at this juncture is not to evaluate the merits of the evidence in detail but to determine if there is a basis for the charges. The issues raised by the defence will be thoroughly examined as the trial progresses.

This case has drawn attention due to the unusual circumstances surrounding Khan’s escape and the alleged involvement of law enforcement personnel. As the legal proceedings continue, the focus will be on how the court navigates the complex interplay of duty, negligence, and criminal intent among the accused.