Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Gujarat High Court Rejects Gangster’s Premature Release Plea
Rauf Valiullah was a politician who was killed in Ahmedabad in 1992.
He was shot outside a building while preparing to leave in his car.
Prosecutors said a gang connected to Abdul Latif planned the murder.
They said Valiullah wanted to tell senior Congress leaders about links between criminals and politicians.
Iqbal Hussain Dhobi was convicted as a member of the gang involved in the case.
He asked the court to let him leave prison early after more than 22 years.
His lawyer said he had behaved well in jail and was not the main shooter.
The Gujarat High Court refused the request.
Police and courts are still dealing with other people accused in the long-running case.
Former Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Rauf Valiullah was shot dead in Ahmedabad on October 9, 1992.
The prosecution alleged that gangster Abdul Latif ordered the killing to prevent Valiullah from exposing a criminal-political nexus.
Convicted gang member Iqbal Hussain Dhobi sought release after serving more than 22 years in prison.
Dhobi’s lawyer cited his good conduct and argued that he was a co-accused rather than the principal assailant.
The Gujarat High Court rejected Dhobi’s plea, while another accused in the case remains absconding.
- Who
- Rauf Valiullah, a former Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member, was killed; Iqbal Hussain Dhobi, a convicted member of the Abdul Latif gang, sought premature release.
- What
- The Gujarat High Court rejected Dhobi’s plea for release before the end of his sentence in the 1992 Valiullah murder case.
- When
- Valiullah was killed on October 9, 1992; the High Court rejected Dhobi’s plea on Thursday, August 20.
- Where
- Valiullah was shot outside Madhuban Building in Ahmedabad’s Ellisbridge area.
- Why
- The prosecution said the killing was intended to stop Valiullah from exposing an alleged criminal-political nexus and to create fear among opponents.
Dhobi’s Release Arguments
State’s Opposition
Role in the murder
Dhobi’s Release Arguments
Dhobi’s lawyer argued that he was a co-accused and that his role should not be equated with that of the principal assailant.
State’s Opposition
The state opposed release while relying on the seriousness of the case and the position of Dhobi’s co-accused in related premature-release proceedings.
Conduct and time served
Dhobi’s Release Arguments
The defence said Dhobi had served more than 22 years and had received a good-conduct report for responsibly performing jail duties.
State’s Opposition
The state argued against premature release and pointed to the pending Supreme Court challenge involving co-accused Sajid Ali.
Continuing legal proceedings
Dhobi’s Release Arguments
The defence emphasized that Dhobi had been acquitted in most other criminal cases registered against him.
State’s Opposition
The state highlighted that other proceedings connected with co-accused members had not been fully resolved.
- Victim
- Rauf Valiullah, then general secretary of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee and a Rajya Sabha member
- Date of killing
- October 9, 1992
- Location
- Outside Madhuban Building, Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad
- Petitioner
- Iqbal Hussain Dhobi alias Laliyo Kasambhai
- Time served
- More than 22 years in prison, according to his lawyer
- Alleged gang leader
- Abdul Latif
- Investigation
- Initially handled by Ahmedabad police and later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation
- Court decision
- The Gujarat High Court rejected Dhobi’s premature-release plea