Pune police failed to discharge duty, HC says in Mankar case

Police officials attached to Shivajinagar Police station in Pune did not discharge their duty when a family victimised by goons was "running from pillar to the post", Bombay High Court said on Friday.

Police officials attached to Shivajinagar Police station in Pune did not discharge their duty when a family victimised by goons was "running from pillar to the post", Bombay High Court said on Friday.

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The bench of Justices BH Marlapalle and AV Mohta reserved judgement on the petition filed by Rajiv Prabhu, seeking that police officers be made co-accused in the case in which Congress corporator Deepak Mankar is a prime accused.

Prabhu's house in Shivajinagar area -- across the road from the police station -- was attacked by goons, allegedly sent by Deepak Mankar and his brother Shivaji, on December 29, 2008. Prabhus allege that police -- despite coming to the spot immediately -- made no arrests on the same day.

Mankars claim to have purchased the house from the original owner, but Prabhus, who are tenants, dispute this.

Commenting on the way police reacted, Justice Marlapalle said, "The house was just opposite your police station...From December 29 to December 30 there were people (allegedly sent by Mankar) near the house. But Shivaji Nagar police station did nothing."

On the last occasion, Court had issued show cause notice to inspector Rahul Yewale and PSI Sandip Ghorpade. Yewale, the in-charge of police station, was later suspended.