Did IPL match make cops refuse to take IM men to judge, asks HC

The Bombay high court, on Monday, directed the commissioner of police (CP), Navi Mumbai, to initiate an inquiry into allegations by two suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) members that they were not produced before a special court, only because the escorting policemen were in a hurry to watch an Indian Premier League (IPL) match.

The Bombay high court, on Monday, directed the commissioner of police (CP), Navi Mumbai, to initiate an inquiry into allegations by two suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) members that they were not produced before a special court, only because the escorting policemen were in a hurry to watch an Indian Premier League (IPL) match.

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Iqbal Majid Akhtar Sheikh and Dastagir Mujawarh, booked for their role in several bomb blasts in the country in 2008, have alleged that a designated Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court had directed that they be produced before the special judge.

Their petition stated that when they were taken to Mumbai sessions court on May 2, they requested the policemen to produce them before the judge concerned, as they wanted to know the schedule for their cases.

In addition, one of them wanted to seek permission to appear for an examination conducted by the Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University while the other needed dental treatment.

However, the policemen did not pay heed to their repeated requests and brought them back to the prison without producing them before the special judge, the petition claims.

A division bench comprising justice BH Marlapalle and justice UD Salvi has directed the CP to conduct the inquiry through an assistant commissioner of police and submit a report within three weeks.