DCP told to take over Loharia murder probe

Rapping the police for their helplessness in acquiring medical records of Suresh Bijlani, an accused in the murder of Navi Mumbai developer Sunil Loharia, the Bombay high court has directed the deputy commissioner of police (DCP), crime branch, to take over the probe in the case.

A division bench of justices SC Dharmadhikari and Gautam Patel directed DCP Satyanarayan Chaudhary to visit JJ  Hospital on Tuesday and acquire the medical report of Bijlani, who got himself admitted to Thane Civil Hospital after being sent to judicial custody.

The HC was hearing a petition filed by Sandeep, Loharia’s son, who challenged a Thane Sessions Court order dated August 14, 2013, directing that Bijlani be taken to the hospital for medical treatment.

The judges asked the police why they did not get suspicious after Bijlani had spent over a month in the hospital. Justice Dharmadikari said, “Has anyone gone to check his condition? Has it improved or worsened?”

Lambasting the police for going soft on Bijlani, justice Patel said: “The police can’t do anything. Can’t even obtain medical records of this accused.... police are remarkably solicitous about this gentleman.”

Both the superintendent of Thane Central Prison and senior inspector of Navi Mumbai police have passed the buck to each other, saying they were helpless in acquiring Bijlani’s custody as they were bound by legal process.

The affidavit filed by the Thane Central Prison superintendent said that he had written to the Thane Civil Hospital on August 20, asking for Bijlani’s medical records. However, he hadn’t received the same. To this, justice Dharmadhikari said: “Can’t the SP personally go there and check?  Is he prevented from entering the hospital?”

The senior police inspector, on the other hand, said they were not even aware of when Bijlani was taken to hospital.

Expressing dissatisfaction, the judges noted, “Under these circumstances, we have noted that the blame is shifted by one officer to another and by jail authorities to investigating agency and vice versa.”

The HC has said that this was a fit case where departmental inquiry should be initiated against all officers concerned.

However,  the court said that it will pass order in this regard at a later stage.

Khaki draws flak
The court has directed the crime branch deputy commissioner police to take over the probe in the murder case of Navi Mumbai developer Sunil Loharia

The court rapped the police for their helplessness in acquiring medical records of Suresh Bijlani, an accused in the case

It said that this was a fit case where an inquiry should be initiated against all officers concerned