No proof in forensic report to show that Nitesh fired at aide

The forensic report in the firing case involving Nitesh Rane, son of Narayan Rane, revenue minister, has failed to throw up evidence to support complainant, Chintu Shaikh’s, claim that Nitesh fired a bullet at him.

The forensic report in the firing case involving Nitesh Rane, son of Narayan Rane, revenue minister, has failed to throw up evidence to support complainant, Chintu Shaikh’s, claim that Nitesh fired a bullet at him.

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Shaikh, who heads the transport union wing of Nitesh’s non-governmental organisation, Swabhimaan, had alleged that Nitesh fired at him at his Khar office on September 23, following an altercation.

Shaikh claimed that the bullet grazed his cheek. The police had registered an attempt to murder case against Nitesh.

The forensic report says the clothes Shaikh wore on the day of the alleged firing and his mouthwash do not indicate that a bullet had been fired at him.

The police had sent Shaikh’s mouthwash and clothes, and a 9mm pistol and a carbine belonging to Nitesh’s security officers to the Forensic and Science Laboratory in Kalina. “If a bullet is fired from a close distance, the victim’s clothes will have some holes, which are not present on Shaikh’s clothes,” an official from the laboratory said requesting anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media. “If a bullet has grazed the cheek, the mouthwash would have shown gun powder or some residual mixture. However, no such substance was found in his mouthwash.”The official said the carbine and pistol were in working condition.

The report has been sent to the crime branch, which has taken over the investigation.