The Karnataka High Court last week granted bail to a man who was among those booked for mob lynching Ashraf, a 36-year-old mentally unwell Malayali Muslim man, during a local cricket match in Mangaluru last year.
Justice Shivashankar Amarannavar allowed the bail petition filed by Natesh Kumar, identified as accused number four in Crime No. 37/2025 registered by the Mangaluru Rural Police, noting that the charge sheet had already been filed and that he was no longer required for custodial interrogation.
The court noted that while some accused allegedly assaulted the victim with clubs, others were said to have attacked him with their hands and kicks. Kumar, the prosecution claimed, had procured chilli powder along with another accused and threw it on the victim, besides instigating others to assault him.
The defence, however, argued that the allegations did not warrant continued detention, especially since the sessions court had already granted several co-accused bail.
Ashraf, originally from Kottakkal but residing with his family in Pulpally, Wayanad, was attacked on Sunday, April 27, near the Batra Kallurthi temple in Kudupu, Mangaluru, while watching a local cricket match.
Ashraf had been working as a scrap collector in several places.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.
