3 years after Nayeem's death, cops yet to act on gangster's politician-police nexus

Nayeemuddin was shot down in Telangana's Shadnagar town on August 8, 2016, and the crime ring he ran, allegedly included both politicians and police officials.
3 years after Nayeem's death, cops yet to act on gangster's politician-police nexus
3 years after Nayeem's death, cops yet to act on gangster's politician-police nexus
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Close to three years after gangster Nayeemuddin was killed in an encounter in Telangana's Shadnagar town on August 8, 2016, activists have alleged that little headway has been made into the investigation pertaining to his criminal activities in the two Telugu states. 

The Forum for Good Governance (FGG), which filed an RTI seeking an update in the progress of the investigation found out that 250 cases had been registered, out of which chargesheets had been filed in 107 cases, while another 29 cases were pending in various courts. 

The case is being probed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by the Inspector General of Police, Hyderabad. The FGG has now alleged that the SIT failed to investigate the gangster's links to politicians and senior police officials.

After Nayeem's death, the forum noted, "His house was raided and firearms, cash, vehicles and thousands of documents were siezed. The seizures also contained a diary which reportedly contained names and details of persons who were his friends and beneficiaries, including public representatives and police personnel." 

"Apart from indulging in murders, the criminal activities of the gangster in collusion with politicians and police officials, involved extortion and forceful occupation of lands and house plots. His criminal activities went on unhindered for more than two decades and the law and order machinery of successive state governments failed to curb such nefarious activities of the gangster," the forum said in its representation to the Governor. 

The forum in its representation, said that a total of eight issues needed clarification, from Nayeem's widespread criminal nexus to the various deals that he was involved in.

An RTI response (A copy of which is with TNM), showed that a total of Rs 2,16,57,180 in cash had been seized from the gangster, besides 1,944 kg gold and 2,482 kg of silver, which had been deposited with courts hearing the cases. 

"This information is contrary to the statement made by the then Home Minister on the floor of the Assembly that an amount of Rs 2.95 crore was seized in cash. This matter requires thorough investigation and truth should be made to come out," the forum alleged.

They also said that there were discrepancies in the large number of cases booked against Nayeem, adding, "Eight criminal cases which were registered between 2003 to 2005 were closed. After his death, the cases were re-opened. From this, inference can be drawn that the police department was hand in glove with his nefarious activities and closed the cases as a goodwill gesture. After his death, 15-year-old cases were reopened."

The RTI response also stated that the names of eight politicians and 25 police officers from the rank of Additional SP to head constable had come up during investigation.  

"These politicians were earlier in different political parties and have now joined the TRS. There is no progress in cases booked against them, may be because they are now in the ruling party," the forum alleged.

"So far, no concrete action has been taken against these officers. We have a reason to believe that if action is taken on them, they may reveal the names of senior officers who used Nayeem for their personal benefits," it further alleged. 

Investigation officials had earlier also stated that around 1,015 acres of private land and hundreds of house plots (present market value of which is estimated to be Rs 500 crore) belonging to public were forcefully grabbed by Nayeem.

"We feel such large-scale land grabbing will not take place without the co-operation of police, politicians and officials of the Revenue and Registration departments, which is not being looked into," the forum alleged. 

It also found fault with the SIT for allegedly refusing to divulge details related to the diary that was seized from Nayeem's house. 

Demanding strict punishment against police officials and politicians allegedly involved with Nayeem, the Forum said, "Unless the investigation is completed fairly and quickly without sparing any person involved....such nexus between criminals, politicians and police will continue and the common man will lose faith in the democratic system of governance."

Nayeemuddin was an active participant in student politics and had joined the outlawed People's War Group (PWG) after being drawn towards Maoist ideology. As a Maoist, he was involved in the attack that killed popular IPS officer KS Vyas, in 1993. 

Nayeem was expelled from the PWG for indulging in extortion, and later became a police spy to help the then Andhra Pradesh police counter Left-wing extremism, which was at its peak in the region at the time. It was here that he allegedly developed close links with top police officials and politicians.  

However, he reportedly soon turned rogue, allegedly forming a land-grabbing and extortion nexus that spanned Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

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