Woman, 72, gets bail after surrender

A 72-year-old cancer-stricken woman, who allegedly tried to usurp a flat on Peddar Road, surrendered before the metropolitan magistrate on Friday and was released on bail the same evening, the Bombay High Court was informed.

A 72-year-old cancer-stricken woman, who allegedly tried to usurp a flat on Peddar Road, surrendered before the metropolitan magistrate on Friday and was released on bail the same evening, the Bombay High Court was informed.

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VT Tulpule, Madhuri Mehta’s counsel, informed the high court about the development. However, the court expressed dissatisfaction at the attitude of the crime branch for failing to start the probe despite the case being transferred on October 18.

Additional public prosecutor S Gajare told the court that the crime branch has not taken over the case as the high court order states that the case has to be probed by “an independent agency, not below the rank of assistant commissioner of police (ACP)”.

A division bench of Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice PD Kode clarified its order of October 18, and said the case should be taken over by crime branch and an officer not below the rank of ACP should investigate.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Shashikant Mehta, Madhuri’s brother-in-law, alleging that she had forged documents and tried to get the flat on Peddar Road transferred in her name. According to Shashikant’s petition, he had allowed his brother Manukant and his wife Madhuri to live with them in the 6th floor flat at Mitra Kunj Cooperative Housing Society opposite Jaslok Hospital.

Manukant passed away in July 2008, and in November, Shashikant learnt that Madhuri had applied to the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) to get the electricity meter transferred to her name.