The Dandupalya gang is innocent: Agni Sridhar

Filmmaker Agni Sridhar also claims that the recent film made on the gang is nothing but a work of fictionAt a recent press conference for the film Edegarike, which is a biopic on the lives of former dons Agni Sridhar and Muthappa Rai, the former had more to say about another film than the one about himself. Sridhar took the opportunity to go hammer and tongs against director Srinivasa Raju���������s depiction of the notorious Dandupalya gang in his recently released film.���������The film Dandupalya is a work of fiction. Much of what has been shown onscreen is not true. As someone who has spent two years in jail, I know how our justice system works. Many a time, cops name convicts in their unresolved cases as well so as to show a good record of having closed cases. The Dandupalya gang is innocent. They���������ve been framed for crimes committed by other people,��������� said Sridhar.Sridhar, a filmmaker and media professional, also claimed that the gang never murdered any of their victims. ���������They were thieves, not murderers,��������� he said and added that he would ask for the case to be reopened, as he is confident of discrediting arresting officer KV Chalapathi Rao���������s evidence in the case. But why is he speaking publicly about this years after the gang was convicted by the State High Court? ���������I���������ve been writing about the injustice meted out to the gang in my publication. A lot of evidence has been fabricated and I���������m ready to engage in a debate about this with officer Chalapathi. The actual murderers are still roaming around freely. I want them to be apprehended,��������� he said.On his part, Chalapathi, who is now an officer with the Central Crime Branch, refused to comment on Sridhar���������s claim. ���������There is videographic evidence of the gang confessing to their crimes and leading the investigating team to crime scenes. I can produce that to prove my case. The High Court has passed judgement in this case, so it is not right of me to comment,��������� he said.And filmmaker Srinivasa is ready to take on Sridhar���������s challenge. ���������While researching for my film, I met with the gang several times and am aware of the heinous crimes they have committed. I have evidence to the same,��������� he said.Contributed by Mahesh H