Hyderabad lawyer Khaja Moizuddin killed: SCBA condemns 'brutal' murder
Synopsis
A senior Hyderabad advocate with 35 years at the bar was allegedly run over by an SUV in a pre-planned attack — and investigators say the suspected motive is a Waqf land dispute. With the Supreme Court Bar Association calling it an assault on justice itself and bar bodies demanding an SIT, this killing has shaken India's legal community at its core.
Key Takeaways
Senior advocate Khaja Moizuddin , with nearly 35 years of practice at the Telangana High Court , was allegedly killed in a targeted attack in Masab Tank, Hyderabad on 23 May 2025 .
According to police, assailants used an SUV without a number plate and allegedly conducted a three-day recce before the attack.
The suspected motive, per police, is linked to disputes over Waqf land ; Moizuddin's son alleged his father had been attacked five times previously.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) called it a 'planned, brutal and shocking murder' and urged a 'fair, expeditious and thorough investigation.' The Telangana High Court Advocates' Association and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi have demanded the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) .
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Tuesday, 27 May 2025 strongly condemned the killing of senior advocate Khaja Moizuddin in Hyderabad, describing it as a 'planned, brutal and shocking murder' and a direct assault on the institution of justice. The statement came days after Moizuddin, a 35-year veteran of the Telangana High Court and City Civil Court, was allegedly killed in a targeted attack in the city's Masab Tank area on 23 May.
The Attack and What Police Found
According to police, Moizuddin was getting into his car near his residence at around 4.45 am when a speeding SUV — reportedly without a number plate — rammed him from behind and fled. He sustained grievous injuries and later succumbed at a hospital. Investigators initially treated the incident as a hit-and-run, but following a complaint from the family and examination of CCTV footage, the case was reclassified as murder. Preliminary investigation, according to police, indicated that the accused allegedly conducted a recce near the advocate's residence for three days before the attack.
Waqf Land Dispute in the Background
The suspected motive, according to police, is linked to disputes over Waqf land. Moizuddin's son Farhan, also an advocate, alleged that his father had received repeated threats from persons linked to alleged Waqf land encroachments and had been attacked five times previously. Police have formed special teams to trace the suspects and the vehicle used in the crime.
What the SCBA Said
In a statement issued by SCBA Honorary Secretary Pragya Baghel, the association said the incident had 'deeply disturbed the legal fraternity' and raised serious concerns over the safety of advocates discharging their professional duties. 'The attack resulting in the death of a member of the Bar is not merely a crime against an individual but an assault on the institution of justice itself,' the statement read. The SCBA urged authorities to conduct a 'fair, expeditious and thorough investigation' and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice at the earliest.
Condemnations from the Legal Community and Beyond
The Telangana High Court Advocates' Association also condemned the killing and demanded the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to trace the culprits and ensure their prosecution. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President and Hyderabad Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the murder and demanded the arrest of the 'main mastermind and assailants' behind the killing.
What Happens Next
With multiple bar associations and political figures demanding swift action, pressure is mounting on Telangana law enforcement to make arrests. The call for an SIT reflects the legal community's concern that a standard investigation may not be sufficient given the alleged premeditated nature of the crime. How authorities respond in the coming days will be closely watched by the wider legal fraternity across India.
Point of View
Recce-backed attack is not a law-and-order footnote — it is a direct challenge to the safety of officers of the court. India's legal system depends on advocates being able to take on contentious cases, including land and property disputes, without fear of lethal retaliation. The alleged Waqf land motive, if proven, will add a politically charged dimension that authorities will need to handle with both rigour and transparency. The demand for an SIT is reasonable: given the alleged complexity of the conspiracy, a standard investigation risks missing the broader network. The SCBA's intervention is significant, but the real test is whether Telangana police can deliver arrests before public attention moves on.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Khaja Moizuddin and how was he killed?
Khaja Moizuddin was a senior advocate with nearly 35 years of practice at the Telangana High Court and City Civil Court in Hyderabad. According to police, he was struck by a speeding SUV without a number plate near his residence in the Masab Tank area at around 4.45 am on 23 May 2025, and later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
What is the suspected motive behind the killing?
Police have linked the killing to disputes over Waqf land, following examination of CCTV footage and a complaint from the family. Moizuddin's son Farhan alleged that his father had received repeated threats from persons linked to alleged Waqf land encroachments and had been attacked five times in the past.
What has the SCBA demanded following the murder?
The Supreme Court Bar Association urged concerned authorities to conduct a fair, expeditious and thorough investigation and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice at the earliest in accordance with law. It described the killing as a 'planned, brutal and shocking murder' and an assault on the institution of justice.
Has anyone demanded an SIT probe into the killing?
Yes. The Telangana High Court Advocates' Association has sought the constitution of a Special Investigation Team to trace the culprits and ensure their prosecution. AIMIM President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi also condemned the murder and demanded the arrest of the main mastermind and assailants.
How premeditated was the attack, according to investigators?
According to police, preliminary investigation indicated that the accused used an SUV without a number plate and allegedly conducted a recce near the advocate's residence for three days before carrying out the attack, suggesting significant prior planning.
