Bengaluru youth kills uncle after tiff over lease, tries to pass it off as accidental fall; friends' suspicion exposes murder

BENGALURU: The probe into the death of a 52-year-old polio survivor in Austin Town has taken a dramatic turn: he was allegedly murdered by his nephew, who fabricated a story claiming that the former had accidentally fallen while under the influence of alcohol.

The accused, 23-year-old Masrur Ahmed, reportedly killed his uncle, Inayathulla Pasha, following a heated argument at the latter's home on the evening of March 1.


Pasha, who ran a two-wheeler garage near Shoolay Circle, had been living for the past 11 years in a house owned by his elder sister, Usna Banu, under a lease arrangement. Divorced 14 years ago and without children, Pasha had reportedly been at odds with Banu over the lease amount of Rs 3 lakh, which she allegedly refused to return while pressuring him to vacate the house.

According to police, disputes over the property often led to heated arguments between Pasha, Banu, and her son, Masrur Ahmed. On the evening of March 1, Pasha returned home under the influence of alcohol, and when Ahmed again demanded that he move out, a verbal altercation escalated into violence.

Enraged, Ahmed allegedly assaulted him inside the house. Pasha sustained severe injuries and died. Investigators said Ahmed then tried to disguise the murder as an accidental fall, with Banu and Ahmed informing relatives and friends that Pasha had died from a fall.

Suspicion arose the next day as preparations for Pasha's final rites were under way. Some of his friends approached Viveknagar police, raising concerns of foul play.

At the scene, officers noticed visible injuries on Pasha's body. Residents and relatives reported that while he was found lying dead on the bed, bloodstains near the door suggested something amiss.

Based on a complaint from Pasha's stepson, Syed Mohammed Ali, police registered an unnatural death report and sent the body for postmortem. Ali told police that Pasha, a polio survivor, had his left leg affected since childhood.

Doctors later informed police that the death was due to assault, with multiple broken ribs. Following this, police asked Pasha's relative, Attaullah Sharif, to lodge a murder complaint that evening.

Inspector Veeresh R and his team detained Ahmed for questioning. During interrogation, Ahmed allegedly confessed that he lost his temper after Pasha abused his mother. He admitted to assaulting Pasha with his hands, pushing him to the floor and kicking him repeatedly on the chest and abdomen.

In a bid to cover up the crime, Ahmed allegedly placed Pasha on the bed, cleaned the bloodstains from the floor and left the house.

Ahmed was arrested on Tuesday. He is in judicial custody now.

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