The manager of late entrepreneur Mir Raza Ali told a judicial commission on Tuesday that he was subjected to pressure and coercive questioning during the police investigation into Ali’s death.
Sherry, who worked as a manager at Wafflex, appeared before the commission to give evidence about events surrounding Ali’s death and his subsequent interactions with investigators.
He told the commission that during his time working with Ali, he had never witnessed him quarrelling or having a dispute with any vendor or investor.
Sherry said investigators questioned him about his employment at Wafflex as well as personal aspects of Ali’s family life, including the separation of his parents and his father Mir Hussain’s second marriage.
Discussing an event in Hyderabad on July 25, Sherry said Mir Raza and Ahmed Bharde had travelled there in connection with an order. When asked whether they had taken money with them, he denied handing over any money.
Justice Omar Sial noted that a police statement attributed to Sherry said Rs29,000 had been taken. Sherry disputed this, saying he had never made such a statement and had not read the police account after it was written down.
He also told the commission that Ahmed Bharde did not have access to CCTV footage from the shop.
Sherry alleged that investigators repeatedly questioned him about whether Ali used drugs. He said he consistently told them that Ali did not, and claimed that an investigator became angry and stood up from his chair after hearing his response.
During the proceedings, Advocate Jibran Nasir identified the investigator as an officer named SP Qais.
Sherry said another investigation team had questioned him about Ali’s mental health, possible debts and alleged drug use, along with details about his family.
Asked by the commission what he believed had happened to Ali, Sherry replied: “I can only say that Mir Raza did not commit suicide.”
He further alleged that police officers had abused him during earlier stages of the investigation and had prevented him from participating in demonstrations demanding justice for Ali or meeting the deceased’s family.
Sherry’s statements concerning police conduct and the circumstances of Ali’s death are allegations made in his testimony before the judicial commission.