RTI activist’s murder: Son blames cops for not acting on complaint
The one-page letter, dated April 23, states that Bhupendra Vira had “an apprehension of threat to his life from Razzak Khan and his sons”
The son of slain RTI activist Bhupendra Vira has alleged that the police did not act on the complaint filed by his father in April.
Bhupendra, 61, was shot dead on October 15 in his house at Kalina. The activist had written to additional commissioner, West region, Chhering Dorje, informing him that he was being threatened at the behest of former corporator Razzak Khan and his sons and that he feared for his life.
A day after Bhupendra was shot, Razzak and his son Amjad were arrested by the Vakola police. Two days later, the crime branch took over the case and Amjad is said to have confessed to the crime.
His son Mayur said, “Even after my father handed over the letter in April, no action was taken and that is why he died. The police did not even file a non-cognisable complaint.”
The one-page letter (a copy of which is with HT) dated April 23 states that Bhupendra had “an apprehension of threat to his life from Razzak Khan and his sons”.
On Monday, Mayur handed over the same letter to the Mumbai crime branch.
Reacting to the allegation, senior police inspector of Vakola police station, Mahadev Wavale, said, “I cannot comment on this now.”
Dorje said, “The complaint letter was sent to DCP zone 8 Virendra Mishra to look into the matter.”
Mishra did not respond to HT’s calls and messages.
The letter states that Khan had usurped his property in 2010 and when he protested, he and his son were attacked by the former corporator and his son. The activist wrote to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) against Khan’s illegal constructions. When no action was taken, he wrote to the Lokayukta which ordered the BMC to take action. The BMC then gave orders to raze the illegal constructions at Chandu studio compound in Kalina.
On April 19, the residents of the illegal constructions on Khan’s illegally occupied land threatened Bhupendra, asking him to withdraw his complaints. Bhupendra’s letter has named the residents, saying they did this at Khan’s behest.
The letter also mentioned the name of an assistant engineer from the building and factory department, alleging he too instigated the residents to put pressure on him.