Navi Mumbai cop murder: We fear for our lives, want case fast-tracked, says Bidre’s family

The key accused in the case is an inspector with whom the victim was involved

Murdered assistant police inspector Ashwini Bidre-Gore’s family wants the ongoing case to be fast-tacked. They made this demand from the state government on Thursday.

Assistant police inspector Ashwini Bidre, 37, went missing on April 11, 2016.

Sharing their views with media at CBD Belapur the family said that the accused should be tried in a fast-track court.

“The people arrested in the murder case have started applying for bails. Once they are out on bail they could do anything to tamper with the technical evidences. While the main accused is a police officer, the others are related to politicians. So they may adopt different tactics to harm us. Thus if the accused are out on bail, that may pause threat to our lives. And hence the government should transfer the case to a fast-track court,” said Anand Bidre, Ashwini’s brother.

Apart from that, the family made three other demands from the state government. Bidre said, “Second, we want assistant commissioner of police Sangeeta Alphonso to supervise the investigation till the last hearing comes from the court.”

Even as the Navi Mumbai crime branch is investigating the case, ACP Alphonso was appointed by the CM’s office to supervise the investigation, because of her expertise in cyber-crime. Initially she was appointed for three months. But her tenure was extended by one month later.

Third, the family demanded Ujjwal Nikam to be the public prosecutor of the murder case.

They also claimed that CM Devendra Fadnavis should be held responsible if something unlawful happens with the family members.

“Ashwini’s father had brought it to the CM’s notice that the investigation was not happening properly. He had also expresses to commit suicide at the CM’s office, but the CM has shown no cognizance. So in future if something happens to him, only the CM will be responsible for it,” said Raju Gore, Ashwini’s husband.

Fifth, they alleged that Navi Mumbai police commissioner Hemant Nagrale had not been revealing anything about the case either to them or two media.

“We believe Nagrale is helping the accused involved in the case. So we want the government to check his role in the entire incident,” Gore said.

Aswhini, 37, was posted with the Protection of Civil Rights Unit, at Konkan Bhavan in Belapur. She lived at Roadpali in Navi Mumbai and went missing on April 11, 2016.

She was allegedly murdered the same day she went missing. While some parts of her body were thrown into the creek on the day itself, some others were thrown the next day of the murder.

The main accused inspector Abhay Kurundkar, 52, was arrested on December 7 last year. Between December 11 last year and February 27, the police arrested three more people including Rajesh Patil, 44, nephew of BJP leader Eknath Khadse.

Initially, the police had registered a kidnapping case. However, based on the statements of the fourth accused- Mahesh Phalnikar, 48, they added murder charges against all accused on March 1.

The Navi Mumbai police on Saturday field the charge sheet (900 pages) of the case.

Nilesh Raut, assistant commissioner of police (crime) said, “We are not conducting any search operation of Ashwini’s mortal remains at Vasai creek now. We may do it later, but nothing has been decided at present.”

Police commissioner Hemant Nagrale, refused to comment.