Mumbai double-murder: Chintan Upadhyay demands inquiry against officers for ‘framing’ him

Hema and Bhambhani were killed on December 11, 2015.

The defence advocate for artist Chintan Upadhyay has demanded an inquiry against investigating officers for ‘framing’ him in the double murder of his artist wife Hema and her elderly lawyer Haresh Bhambani.

In July, Chintan had filed a discharge application before the Dindoshi sessions court

Hema and Bhambhani were killed on December 11, 2015. Chintan was arrested in connection with the double murder in the same year. According to the prosecution, he hatched the plot and hired Vidyadhar Rajbhar, a prime accused who is still absconding. Pradeep Rajbhar, Azaad Rajbhar and Shivkumar Rajbhar are other accused who are behind the bars.

In July, Chintan had filed a discharge application before the Dindoshi sessions court. During a two-hour-long arguments, advocate Raja Thakare on Thursday informed the court about loopholes in the charge sheet — ranging from the statements to missing call detail records of witnesses.

The defence told the court that they are not only seeking discharge but also an inquiry against officers of the Kandivli police. Thakare also said Chintan’s purported scribbling ‘I will destroy you’ mentioned in his diary was not part of the charge sheet.

The defence also contested claims by Vidhyadhar’s mother that he had committed the crime at the behest of Chintan. “There is no corroborative evidence,” said Thakare

In the discharge application, Chintan had stated, “The prosecution's theory about hatching alleged conspiracy is also not firm and consistent. If according to the prosecution, the conspiracy was hatched on December 8, 2015, then this is inconsistent with their own theory where the prosecution tries to project that the godown was hired in October for committing murder and the chloroform was brought in August.”

In another petition before the Bombay high court, Chintan has claimed that the crime branch’s probe was prejudiced and that he was being made a “scapegoat” in the case.