Nearly four years after audio king Gulshan Kumar wasgunned down, his murder trial commenced on Monday amidst tight security in asessions court in Mumbai with an eyewitness identifying two people as havingallegedly committed the heinous crime.
Deposing before additional sessions judge M.L. Tahilyani,Ramchandra Lavangare, a key prosecution witness, pointed out at Abdul Rashid Daudand Abdul Rauf Daud Merchant, who were seated in the dock along with otheraccused.
The judge asked both the accused to stand up and thewitness promptly said: "Yes, these two had opened fire at the victim".
The witness told special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikamduring examination-in-chief that three assailants had gunned down Gulshan Kumaramong whom were Abdul Rashid and Abdul Rauf.
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The third assailant, he said, was not present in thecourt. According to prosecution, he was Anil Sharma, an absconding accused.
The witness narrated the sequence of events leading tothe murder of the audio king on August 12, 1997 at Jeet Nagar outside a Shivatemple in suburban Juhu where Gulshan Kumar had come to offer prayers at 10 a.m.
The witness said he was a plumber by profession andalso the president of the mandal which had constructed the temple. Gulshan Kumarused to frequent the temple almost every day. (PTI)
