Mumbai: Absconding killer continues to threaten the victim’s kin

Azam Aslam Butt who was convicted of the 2005 murder of Santacruzbased property dealer Kashinath Gharat and has been absconding on parole since 2023 continues to threaten the victimrsquos brother Vishwanath during court hearings to withdraw the case against him Vishwanath has filed a writ petition against Butt and several police officers at the Bombay High Court for failing to provide him adequate security as the police are not visiting his home daily as requiredAzam Aslam Butt in white shoes in Santacruz earlier this year File PicsThe writ petition was filed against the DCP Zone IX the additional commissioner of police and senior inspectors of Santacruz police station for not protecting him from Butt who has been threatening him regularly Butt is convicted of murdering Kashinath burning the body and disposing of it in Lokhandwala creek He has more than 12 FIRs registered against him at various police stations with charges of murder fraud and possessing fake passports in Mumbai Nashik and NagpurAccording to the writ petition filed by Vishwanath he is seeking justice from the court to arrest Butt who is roaming freely and fearlessly in the area Gharat and his family are in constant fear due to threats from Butt and his associates Gharatrsquos petition also notes that police protection was initially granted to him and his family with officers visiting daily and maintaining diary records However since May the police have stopped visiting their homeThe petition further states that Butt is a habitual parole violator having absconded even after the expiration of his parole periods He also holds multiple fraudulent passports and may abscond with the help of these passports and his contacts The last time Butt jumped parole was on May 8 2023 and he has been absconding since The Nagpur jail authorities informed Mumbai police about his escape but Butt applied for another 90day parole falsely claiming to be in jailKashinath Gharat the victim right Victimrsquos brother Vishwanath with a picture of their deceased motherSpeaking with midday Vishwanath said ldquoMy brother was killed by Azam Aslam Butt and I want to see him in jail until he dies Despite multiple parole violations he managed to secure parole again in 2023 and has been absconding since He has multiple passports and I am sure he is planning to flee the country I am seeking police protection as Butt regularly threatens me During court hearings he has threatened me multiple times through unknown individuals to drop the case My life is in dangerrdquoldquoI approached the Santacruz police since Butt is residing in Vile Parle just 1 km from my home I also contacted the Oshiwara police who had previously arrested Butt for killing my brother in 2005 Additionally I reached out to the DCP Zone IX and jail authorities instructing them to arrest Butt But no action has been takenrdquo Vishwanath added According to Vishwanath his mother who was the complainant in the case and was fighting to get justice for Kashinath died last year