The Times of India:Saturday, December 24, 2011.
MUMBAI: Mumbai suburban collector Nirmalkumar Deshmukh and deputy collector Shivajirao Davbhat can breathe a sigh of relief in the case of Jayesh Mohite, an 18-month-old who died after falling into a pit.
Vikhroli police had registered an FIR against Deshmukh and Davbhat, but DCP Sanjay Shintre has given them a virtual clean-chit.
In his report submitted to home minister R R Patil, Shintre said that prima facie, Deshmukh and Davbhat were not responsible for the mishap. TOI is in possession of Shintre's letter that was forwarded to the home department. The letter was obtained by Anwar Shaikh, an RTI activist.
Vikhroli police had registered an FIR against Deshmukh and Davbhat, but DCP Sanjay Shintre has given them a virtual clean-chit.
In his report submitted to home minister R R Patil, Shintre said that prima facie, Deshmukh and Davbhat were not responsible for the mishap. TOI is in possession of Shintre's letter that was forwarded to the home department. The letter was obtained by Anwar Shaikh, an RTI activist.
"The collector's office had carried out demolition of illegal encroachment on forest land. After the demolition drive, the land was handed over to the forest department on November 18, 2011. The Vikhroli incident happened on December 12. If at all anything has gone wrong on the said government plot, the police should have mentioned the names of forest department officials in the FIR instead of holding Deshmukh and Davbhat responsible for the mishap," a senior revenue official said.
With the police naming them in the FIR, both Deshmukh and Davbhat had applied for anticipatory bail. "If Deshmukh and Davbhat were found guilty, it would be an embarrassment not only for their family members, but even for the government. The court has granted them interim bail till December 24," the official added.
DCP Shintre said, "Deshmukh and Davbhat were included in the FIR as the complainant had named them. The officials have submitted their written statement to police and sought anticipatory bail."
"We are aware that illegal structures on the said plot were demolished. But the slum resurfaced. The slumdwellers were even warned that the place is not fit for habitation. But they continued to stay on the encroached plot. After the police probe, one will come to know whether any one is responsible for the mishap or if it was the complainant's fault," Shintre added.
A government official said slumdwellers had encroached on the mangrove land, attracting eviction. "If people demand action against the collector for razing illegal units, it would be difficult to protect government land from encroachment," he added.
With the police naming them in the FIR, both Deshmukh and Davbhat had applied for anticipatory bail. "If Deshmukh and Davbhat were found guilty, it would be an embarrassment not only for their family members, but even for the government. The court has granted them interim bail till December 24," the official added.
DCP Shintre said, "Deshmukh and Davbhat were included in the FIR as the complainant had named them. The officials have submitted their written statement to police and sought anticipatory bail."
"We are aware that illegal structures on the said plot were demolished. But the slum resurfaced. The slumdwellers were even warned that the place is not fit for habitation. But they continued to stay on the encroached plot. After the police probe, one will come to know whether any one is responsible for the mishap or if it was the complainant's fault," Shintre added.
A government official said slumdwellers had encroached on the mangrove land, attracting eviction. "If people demand action against the collector for razing illegal units, it would be difficult to protect government land from encroachment," he added.