Cops guilty of attending gangsters’ bash

Five policemen, who had been caught on camera while partying with gangsters at a Chembur club, may have to face a departmental inquiry.

Five policemen, who had been caught on camera while partying with gangsters at a Chembur club, may have to face a departmental inquiry.

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An initial inquiry into the incident has found the policemen guilty of mingling with gangsters during a party thrown to celebrate the release of Chhota Rajan aide D.K. Rao.

The five policemen, including a deputy commissioner of police (DCP) and an assistant commissioner of police (ACP), are already under suspension.

DCP (Zone V), Milind Bharambe, who conducted the preliminary inquiry, told HT on Thursday that the report had been submitted to commissioner of police a fortnight ago. Bharambe said that the five policemen have been found guilty of mingling with gangsters. “I have submitted the report and recommended a departmental inquiry,” said Bharambe.

Sources in the commissioner’s office revealed that a departmental inquiry has already been ordered. “It [departmental inquiry] is a quasi-judicial process which will take at least three to four months to complete. The implicated officers will be given opportunity to present their defence,” said an officer requesting anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

The party was organised by a local Nationalist Congress Party worker allegedly to celebrate the release of some Chhota Rajan henchmen, who had spent years in jail. The gang included Farid Tanasha and Sunil Potdar, who once featured in the list of top 10 criminals wanted by the Mumbai police.