‘Yet to decide who will reply to accused’s plea’

MUMBAI: The Mumbai crime branch did not file a reply on Monday in the Hema Upadhyay-Haresh Bhambani double murder case on an application filed by accused Pradeep

MUMBAI: The Mumbai crime branch did not file a reply on Monday in the Hema Upadhyay-Haresh Bhambani double murder case on an application filed by accused Pradeep Rajbhar, stating that he confessed to the crime because of police threats.

HT Image

The Dindoshi sessions court on Monday directed the prosecution to render the confession statement court to all the accused.

In June, Pradeep told the sessions court that he confessed under duress. Pradeep had recorded his confession before a magistrate under provisions of the CrPC.

The Kandivli police, while filing the charge sheet in May, had attached Pradeep’s confession, where he stated he committed the crime on the directions of Hema’s estranged husband Chintan Upadhyay.

Prosecutor Datta Mudiganti, however, told the Dindoshi sessions court on Monday, “It is yet to be decided whether the Kandivli police or the crime branch will file a reply.”

While the Kandivli police have filed a charge sheet in the case following the arrest of five accused, the case was transferred to the Mumbai crime branch following an arbitrary order by police commissioner Datta Padsalgikar.

The court asked the police to file a reply in the matters where the mother of absconding accused Vidhyadhar Rajbhar has filed application requesting custody of the Charkop warehouse. The police have stated in the charge sheet that Upadhyay and Bhambani were murdered at the warehouse.

The matter pertaining to the return of the tempo to Vijay’s family has been scheduled for September 2.

“The property belongs to the absconding accused. As investigations are on, it cannot be returned to the accused’s family,” Kadar Sayani argued appearing for Borivli Advocate’s Bar Association.

So far, the police have arrested five people, including Chintan and the four Rajbhars — Pradeep, Vijay, Shivkumar and a minor accused.