Salunkhe case: Relief for ATS boss, six others

In a relief for seven senior IPS officers, including ATS chief Rakesh Maria, the Bombay High Court has stayed the CBI inquiry initiated against them for allegedly shielding a fellow officer who was accused of clearing his law exam without appearing for the practical exam.

A division bench of Justice VM Kanade and justice PD Kode stayed the CBI inquiry for a week following a review petition filed by one of the seven officers, additional commissioner of police Sanjay Saxena.

The bench had on February 27 directed a CBI inquiry against the seven officers while hearing a petition filed by Chitra Salunkhe, former vice-principal of Siddharth Law College. She had alleged that KL Bishnoi, a 1985 batch IPS officer, cleared his final year LLB examination with the help of then acting principal IA Inamdar without actually appearing for the practical examination held on March 12, 2005. These seven IPS officers had conducted an inquiry following a complaint lodged by Salunkhe.

The court has asked Salunkhe to file her reply by April 12.
The court, however, remarked: “It seems like the police has been ganging up and trying to strangle the noise of an honest citizen. This is alarming. The motto of Maharashtra police is to protect the innocent. It should not be the other way around.”

The judges further remarked that they have the powers to protect any person who is being harassed by the police. Justice Kanade said:

“We have not said that the officers are guilty. We have only directed for inquiry.”