Mangaluru: In a decisive judgment, the First Additional District and Sessions Court, Mangaluru, on Saturday sentenced three men to life imprisonment for the 2014 double murder of their friends following a financial fallout linked to a gold smuggling racket.

Judge Mallikarjuna Swamy H S convicted Mohammed Muhajir Sanaf (35), A Mohammed Irshad (34), and A Mohammed Safwan (34) for killing Nafir Ahmed (24) of Thalassery and Fahim of Kozhikode on July 1, 2014. The court found the trio guilty under Section 302 of IPC and imposed a fine of ₹25,000 each, with an additional six months’ simple imprisonment in case of non-payment.

The Crime and Motive

The case stemmed from a gold smuggling deal gone wrong. Nafir had reportedly brought 3 kg of gold from Dubai and, defying his handler, attempted to sell it in Goa with help from Fahim. The two then brought in Sanaf, Irshad, and Safwan. The gold, sold for over ₹73 lakh, became the root of a violent disagreement, leading to the gruesome murder of both Nafir and Fahim.

Additional Charges and Sentences

  • Section 201 r/w 34 IPC (Destruction of Evidence): 3 years’ simple imprisonment + ₹5,000 fine (2 months in default)

  • Section 120B IPC (Criminal Conspiracy): ₹10,000 fine + 3 months’ simple imprisonment in default

  • All sentences will run concurrently, and the accused are entitled to set-off under Section 428 CrPC for their time in custody.

    • The case serves as a grim reminder of how greed-fuelled crimes leave a trail of devastation behind.

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