The Maharashtra government is treading cautiously on the killing of 25-year-old Rahul Raj for allegedly hijacking a bus in Mumbai last week, especially after reports that the JJ Hospital autopsy revealed that Raj was shot from a very close range.
State chief secretary Johny Joseph, who is probing the matter, told HT, “All the reports like forensic and post-mortem will be submitted along with police deposition before the inquiry is concluded.”
Meanwhile, Raj’s father Kundan Prasad Singh said on Thursday, “I knew it all along. It has just vindicated my claim that Rahul was killed in a fake encounter. It is clear that the Mumbai police lied right from the outset. It is unfortunate that there is no difference between the style of functioning of Mumbai police and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.”
“I have been saying from day one that my son was captured by Mumbai police and then shot from point-blank range. The forensic report of JJ hospital has said just that,” he added. “I still fail to understand what was the need to kill him. ACP Mohammad Javed, who ordered the encounter, should be immediately arrested.”
Although Joseph said he was aware that questions were being raised on why had Raj been shot from close quarters, Mumbai police commissioner Hasan Gafoor asserted, “Doctors will say anything. Let them finish making the complete report and let them give one to us. Then we will see.”
Reacting to the autopsy report that Raj was shot from a two-feet distance, Gafoor said the truth would be revealed only in the report by the forensic experts. It is likely to be submitted in a week.
But Singh said he had no faith in the investigations being conducted by the Maharashtra authorities. “The Centre needs to act fast. It should not waste time and let more Rahuls fall to the MNS bullets in Maharashtra. Else, I will have no other option but to knock the doors of the Supreme Court. I want a judicial probe by sitting judge of Supreme Court into the whole affair.”
{{/usCountry}}But Singh said he had no faith in the investigations being conducted by the Maharashtra authorities. “The Centre needs to act fast. It should not waste time and let more Rahuls fall to the MNS bullets in Maharashtra. Else, I will have no other option but to knock the doors of the Supreme Court. I want a judicial probe by sitting judge of Supreme Court into the whole affair.”
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, dean of JJ Hospital Dr IBM Sabnis said he had not received any post-mortem report conducted on Raj’s body. “I have not issued any statement to the media either confirming or declining the theory that Rahul Raj was shot at a close range.”