12 May,2010 09:40 AM IST | | Imran Gowhar
Incensed ACP directs cops to slap case of cheating against mobile phone salesman who inadvertently delayed arrest of city paediatrician's killer
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Central Crime Branch sleuths investigating the murder of a city paediatrician took longer than they would have liked to catch the murderer Ravi Kumar, a gym instructor. Paediatrician Sharath Kumar was found dead on April 10 in Kunigal taluka.
The police who were keeping a tab on Kumar's phone following the death, could not reach him sooner because the number was found registered against the name of someone named Lokesh (24) who lives on Magadi Road.
It later emerged that Syed Iftekhar, a salesman at the store, had sold the SIM card to Ravi Kumar without collecting his identity papers. Iftekhar instead used photocopies of a driving license left behind by another customer ufffd Lokesh.
Not Lokesh's fault
Following the murder, the police who were tracking Ravi's number picked up Lokesh based on the documents that Iftekhar had used. The cops however found out that the two mobile SIM cards that Lokesh had purchased from the Pratham Communication did not include the number that was under suspicion. Subsequent investigations revealed that Iftekhar had sold a SIM number for Rs 100 to Ravi Kumar.
Owner owns up
K Mazharuddin, the owner of the mobile store admitted that the SIM had been sold from his shop by Iftekhar, who had signed the sales form.
Taking a serious note of the issue, BN Byamegoda, the assistant commissioner of police, special enquiries, directed the Sanjay Nagar police to book a case of cheating against Iftekhar. Sub-Inspector Shashidhar B, who is investigating the case, said, "Strong action will be initiated against Iftekhar who resorted to unethical practices while selling the SIM card. This should be a lesson for others who commit such crimes."
