Photographs of UDF leaders with murder case accused in UAE spark row

Photographs of MLAs and a senior Muslim League leader posing with Ahmed Raees, an absconding accused in the 2022 Abu Bakker Siddique murder case in Manjeswaram, at the inauguration of a jewellery showroom in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have triggered a controversy.The photographs show MLAs Sandeep Varier and A.K.M. Ashraf and Indian Union Muslim League Kasaragod district president N.A. Nellikunnu standing alongside Raees, who is the 13th accused in the case and remains at large. The case is being investigated by the State Crime Branch. Raees has been absconding for nearly four years.The three have rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing, saying that they attended the function after receiving an invitation and had no idea that Raees or any other person with a criminal background would be present at the event. They told the media that several people had approached them for photographs during the function and questioned how they could be held responsible for those who stood beside them.Alleged murderAbu Bakker Siddique, a native of Mugu Road under the Manjeswaram police station limits, was allegedly murdered on June 26, 2022. According to the investigation, Siddique returned to Keralam from the Gulf after his brother was allegedly held hostage by members of a gang to force him to return.Siddique landed at the Mangaluru International Airport from where he was allegedly abducted and taken to a house at Paivalike and its adjoining apartment. He was then reportedly attacked with deadly weapons. Later, the attackers allegedly abandoned the seriously injured man at a private hospital in the Bandiyod area before fleeing.The investigation team found that Siddique was killed over a dispute involving the smuggling of foreign currency.The Manjeswaram police who initially investigated the case named 17 people as accused. The State Crime Branch subsequently took over the probe and included Ahmed Raees as an accused.Investigators believe that Raees fled abroad before he could be arrested. He has remained absconding since then. Investigators have reportedly been unable to establish his whereabouts.Raees was an accused in the 2014 Balika Aziz murder case. However, he was subsequently acquitted by the court. Published - November 11, 2026 08:30 pm IST