Udupi Police have arrested three individuals in connection with the murder of Faizal Saiffuddin (48), the proprietor of AKMS Tours and Travels in Manipal, Karnataka. The murder occurred on September 27 at his residence and was allegedly fueled by financial disputes.
The accused have been identified as:
Mohammed Faisal Khan (27)
Mohammed Sharif (37)
Abdul Shukoor (43)
All three were drivers employed by Saiffuddin and residents of Udupi district.
According to the police, Saiffuddin, a rowdy-sheeter with 18 criminal cases, had been operating a fleet of buses—over 35 at one point—but had recently sold many of them. He was in the process of revamping his business in the Udupi region.
A police complaint filed by Saiffuddin’s son stated that Faisal Khan and Sharif took him to Mangaluru to discuss business on the morning of the murder. They returned to his home around 10:00 AM, and within 15 minutes, Saiffuddin was brutally hacked to death using weapons found at the crime scene.
Investigations revealed deep-seated resentment. Shukoor, who had worked for Saiffuddin for over 10 years, had spent over four years in prison for a previous murder case involving Vashista Yadav, a hotel owner, in which Saiffuddin and Sharif were also co-accused. Shukoor was reportedly angry that Saiffuddin did not support his family during his imprisonment.
The other two accused also had ongoing financial disputes with the victim, said police sources.
The trio did not carry weapons, instead used available items at the house to commit the murder. Police investigations are ongoing.
