A vacation bench of the Telangana High Court has adjourned a habeas corpus petition linked to the alleged murder of advocate Khaja Moizuddin at Masab Tank on May 23. The plea, filed by Syed Sadiq on behalf of suspects Hasan Bin Ali Yafai and Muneer Ahmed, was moved as a lunch motion and carried serious allegations against police conduct.
Court Proceedings and Adjournment
A division bench, comprising Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka and Justice Vakiti Ramakrishna Reddy, posted the matter to June 4 without passing any interim orders. The court's decision came after hearing arguments from the petitioner's counsel, who highlighted the urgency of the case.
Allegations of Illegal Detention and Torture
The petitioner alleged that police illegally detained and tortured family members of the suspects, including elderly parents, and urged the court to direct police to produce them immediately. Specifically, the petition named family members of Hasan, a mechanic, including his mother Akhtar Unnisa Begum, wife Safina Khatun, brother Omer Bin Ali Yafai, and son Essa Bin Hasan Yafai, who have allegedly been in custody since May 25.
The petitioner urged the court to direct police to produce the missing persons. Compensation was also sought for the alleged violation of statutory and fundamental rights of the detained individuals.
Motive Behind Advocate's Killing
Further, the petition claimed that the motive behind the advocate's killing was tied to his professional work. Moizuddin had been engaged in long-standing legal battles to safeguard Waqf Board properties, making him a target, the petitioner argued. Moizuddin had also been actively working to protect institutional lands from illegal encroachers who had established properties on them, the petitioner added.
The case highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding property disputes in Hyderabad and the risks faced by legal professionals involved in such sensitive matters. The court's next hearing on June 4 is expected to address the habeas corpus plea and the allegations of police misconduct.
