Land-grab accused offered cop Rs 3cr to flee lockup

Panaji: A 55-year-old resident of Tivim, the notorious criminal Suleman Mohammed Khan, also known as Siddique, took almost a fortnight to persuade Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBn) constable Amit Naik to help him escape from the crime branch custody by offering Naik Rs 3 crore. Siddique promised Naik the entire amount once they reached Bengaluru.

Goa police on Saturday arrested and dismissed Naik from service for helping the escape of Siddique, who had been arrested in connection with an alleged land grab case.

“Naik, who fled with Siddique, travelled on his bike to the outskirts of Hubballi in Karnataka. Both then took another vehicle to enter the city. Later, in Hubballi, Siddique abandoned Naik, who subsequently surrendered to Hubballi police,” a senior police officer said. “Siddique offered Rs 3 crore to Naik to help him escape from police custody. We are verifying whatever Naik has told us so far.”

Goa police have detained Siddique’s friend at Hubballi, who helped him travel in the city before escaping from there.

Naik joined Goa police in 2013 and his family’s origins lie in Uttar Kannada in Karnataka. Police said that Naik’s family shifted to Goa, and he was born in the state. His mother and father are in business, police said.

“The constable has been dismissed from service,” deputy inspector general of police Varsha Sharma told TOI.

Naik helped Siddique escape from the crime branch’s custody on Friday morning.

After Naik surrendered at the Hubballi police station, a Goa police team took him into custody and brought him back to Goa for interrogation.

Old Goa police have booked Naik for helping the accused flee from police custody.

Goa police are yet to trace Siddique. A native of Shivamogga in Karnataka, Siddique was involved in 15 cases across the country — seven in Goa, four in Hyderabad, three in Pune, and one in Delhi.

He was involved in three cases being probed by Goa’s special investigation team (SIT) for land grab cases and was a proclaimed offender in two cases from North Goa. The SIT arrested him on Nov 12 after intensive efforts.

Siddique had been absconding for four and a half years. He was formally arrested in all three cases. He was then put in the crime branch lockup.


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