Collector Deshmukh, ex-SP Karnik served notices

Notices have been issued to Pune district collector Vikas Deshmukh and former superintendent of police (rural) Sandeep Karnik to file their say in the Maval firing case, which they have to do by January 2. 

The notices have been issued under the judicial inquiry in the Maval firing case. The death of three farmers in the police firing on August 9 had led to setting up of the inquiry. The probe will be conducted by a retired judge of the Bombay high court, MG Gaikwad.

Earlier, affidavits and production of documents was invited from people and also public servants. Now, notices have also been sent to the collector, former SP Karnik, present SP (rural), police inspector of Wadgaon Maval, tehsildar of Wadgaon Maval and the sub-divisional officer to file their say.

The farmers were demonstrating against the closed pipeline project to lift water from the Pavana river to Pimpri-Chinchwad. The water was to be provided for a township in Pimpri-Chinchwad and the agitators feared they would be deprived of their water resource. 

Karnik was blamed for the incident in which Kantabai Thakar (45), Moreshwar Sathe (40) and Shamrao Tupe (29) died on the Pune-Mumbai expressway, where the demonstration was held, while 10 others were injured. Karnik was later transferred to Mumbai. 

December 22 was the last day for the local people and public servants to file affidavits. However, only 17 affidavits were received till the last day, forcing the judge to extended the deadline till January 6.

Secretary of the inquiry, KD Patil, said the date for the submission of probe report to the government too has been extended till the end of February, 2012.