HC raps state over laxity in probe against cop

The Bombay High Court on Monday rapped the state government for its casual approach in conducting the inquiry against a police officer for allegedly threatening a magistrate.

The Bombay High Court on Monday rapped the state government for its casual approach in conducting the inquiry against a police officer for allegedly threatening a magistrate.

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A division bench of Justice P.B. Majumdar and Justice R.G. Ketkar was hearing a suo moto contempt imitated by the high court against senior police inspector Pradeep Suryavanshi for threatening the Metropolitan Magistrate, Andheri, R. Shaikh.

The magistrate was conducting judicial inquiry into the alleged fake encounter of Ramnarayan Gupta alias Lakkhan Bhhaiya in 2006.

The police was to submit a report of departmental inquiry initiated against Suryavanshi for threatening the magistrate.

Additional public prosecutor Prajakta Shinde informed the court that DCP R.G. Dabhade who was conducting the inquiry against Suryavanshi was sent for training by the police department.

“The report is almost ready, but the officer has not been able to sign it as he has been sent for training,” said Shinde. Justice Majumdar said, “How casually you (government) are taking matters.”

Suryavanshi’s lawyer A. Ganbawle said the magistrate had misunderstood the conversation.