The Bombay High Court on Monday castigated the police for lapses in the investigation into acquisition of imported Toyota Land Cruiser by Bollywood actor Sushmita Sen.
What riled the court, among other things, was the investigating officers' failure to get original documents of the transaction, even when six months have lapsed after the probe was ordered.
The car deal came under High Court's scanner after Sen moved the court against Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai's order slapping a fine of Rs 23 lakh on her for the evasion of Octroi.
Sushmita's stand is that one Vasu Thamalla, who owns the car, hypothecated it as a collateral for the loan she advanced to him.
Finding the whole transaction fishy, the High Court then ordered the police to arrest Thamalla, as well as one Haren Choksi, the middleman in the deal.
Division bench of Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice VM Kanade on Monday pulled up the police on learning that they have not got original documents in their possession.
Police themselves claim that the car was registered with city RTO on the basis of fake documents. "The investigating officer doesn't have originals... Doesn't it speak volumes for the investigation?" court said.
Also, the court asked, why the two RTO officers, SK Patel and ML Mane, were not arrested.
{{/usCountry}}Also, the court asked, why the two RTO officers, SK Patel and ML Mane, were not arrested.
{{/usCountry}}"But for the RTO officers, nothing would have happened", court said.