HC tells ACB officer to be present today

The Bombay High Court, while hearing a petition filed by builder Sandeep Shukla — a co-accused in the Haseena Parkar extortion case — on Tuesday asked the concerned officer of the ACB to remain present in court on Wednesday.

A division bench of Justice RMS Khandeparkar and Justice VK Tahilramani questioned the state government about why the ACB has not named two Crime Branch officials as accused in the FIR filed by them.

Observing that even though there were serious allegations levelled against Anil Mahabole and Rajendra Nikam, Senior Police Inspectors of the Mumbai Crime Branch and no action was taken against them, the court sought an explanation about the same from the state government.

Chief public prosecutor Satish Borulkar told the court that investigation was still on and assured the court that action will be taken if any material is found. Shukla’s advocate BP Pandey, however, argued that there was evidence that the two officers were putting pressure on Shukla to pay up the money.

Pandey argued that an FIR had not been lodged against the two officers.