Mangaluru, August 13, 2025 – The charge sheet filed in the mob lynching case of 38-year-old Ashraf, a mentally unstable individual from Kerala, killed in Kudupu, Mangaluru, on April 27, 2025, has brought to light the role of BJP leader Ravindra Naik, husband of former BJP corporator Sangeetha Naik. The document also exposes initial attempts by Mangaluru police to suppress his involvement, despite all 21 accused naming Naik in their statements.
The incident occurred during a cricket tournament in Kudupu, where Ashraf was brutally attacked and killed by a mob. Some claimed he shouted “Pakistan Zindabad,” triggering the assault, but locals and human rights organizations argued that Ashraf, being mentally unstable, was targeted after a minor altercation. The charge sheet details how Naik allegedly incited the mob, urging them to “beat and kill” Ashraf for the alleged slogan and prevented players, including Deepak from the Kongooru cricket team, from stopping the assault. Statements from multiple accused confirm Naik’s presence and provocative remarks, such as, “If we let him go, others will do the same tomorrow. We’ll handle the police.”
Initially, Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal, on April 29, 2025, claimed no complaints were filed against Naik, despite the accused implicating him during early interrogations. The charge sheet contradicts this, revealing consistent statements about Naik’s role. Allegations suggest Naik and another accused, Devadas, attempted to cover up the incident, instructing others to deny knowledge and promising to manage police inquiries to ensure a “C report” (closure without charges).
The case, initially registered as an unnatural death, was reclassified as murder due to public outrage, media coverage, and pressure from human rights groups. The post-mortem report, released on July 25, 2025, confirmed Ashraf’s death resulted from severe injuries, including 35 external wounds, brain hemorrhage, and kidney damage caused by blunt force trauma. Despite Naik’s name appearing in the charge sheet, he has not been formally charged, with police citing insufficient evidence and his unavailability for questioning. Naik remains at large, raising concerns about political influence in the investigation.
The case has sparked questions about police conduct, especially after Agrawal’s transfer and the appointment of new Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy, who also denied evidence against Naik. Social media posts questioning Naik’s non-arrest led to police warnings against such claims without evidence. Further investigation into Naik’s role is promised, but his exclusion from the accused list continues to fuel suspicions of a cover-up.
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