Hubballi: Police have picked up two brothers, Abhishek Jadhav and Ganesh Jadhav, near the Gadag–Hubballi side for questioning in connection with the Mantur Road Malik murder case.
They were brought to Hubballi in a police jeep under security, and officers are treating them as persons being questioned, not as confirmed accused in the crime.
The case itself goes back to November 13, when a youth named Malik (also reported as Malik Jaan), around 27, was stabbed to death on Mantur Road under Bendigeri police station limits.
He was attacked near a salon by a group of men with knives, and another youth, Zakir, was seriously injured and admitted to KIMS Hospital.
Local coverage and early police briefings suggested a larger gang angle, with estimates ranging from 8 to over 15 people involved in the planned assault.
Bendigeri police registered a case, conducted spot inspection and post‑mortem formalities, and launched a manhunt to trace everyone who may have taken part or has information about the incident.
In the days that followed, police arrested several primary suspects, including Balaraj alias Balu and Mohammed Hafeez, and even opened fire on them during a spot inspection when they allegedly attacked officers and tried to flee.
Both men, described by officials as key murder accused with past criminal cases, were shot in the legs and treated at KIMS along with injured policemen.
Investigators have also been examining possible links to earlier gang rivalry in the Mantur Road and Gangadharnagar belt, including tensions between local groups tied to the Dawood and Jadhav sides.
However, police have not publicly confirmed final motive or roles for everyone named in public discussion, and stress that the case is still under active investigation.
As of now, Abhishek and Ganesh Jadhav are being questioned to verify their movements, connections and any knowledge they may have about Malik’s murder, but there is no court conviction or final charge proving their guilt.
Police and legal experts repeatedly remind that under Indian law, every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and ongoing inquiries should not be treated as a final verdict.