New officer to investigate assault of 10-month-old girl

A day after the Kharghar police booked creche owner Priyanka Nikam and her employee Afsana Shaikh for attempted murder of a 10 month-old-girl, Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale on Saturday appointed a new investigation officer (IO) for the case.

The Kharghar police had arrested Shaikh and Nikam of Purva Play school in the area after it came to light that Shaikh had brutally assaulted a ten-month old girl. Shaikh's actions were caught on a CCTV camera installed in the play school.

According to sources, Nagrale changed the case's IO Sunil Thopate following allegations levelled by the infant's parents that he was going soft on the accused and allowing Nikam to secure bail from a court.

Police Inspector Himanshu Sonawane will now investigate the case. The police has claimed that Nikam is untraceable after being released on bail.

"We have served a notice to Nikam. We had to stick the notice at the door of her residence, as she was not at home," said investigating officer Himanshu Sonawane.