Bombay high court rapped Palghar police, observing that it learnt no lesson from the assault on doctors of a Dombivli municipal hospital in July
Public prosecutor Shishir Hiray said the incident took place around 1.50am on Sept 6. An FIR was lodged around 6.40am. Out of 10 accused, one was arrested, nine are absconding and seven are unknown. How can 8-9 persons abscond?
Because of your laxity, they are absconding.
HC was hearing a suo motu PIL on the Dombivli doctors’ assault incident when amicus curiae senior advocate Ashok Mundargi mentioned there was “another incident” in a private hospital in Palghar. Senior advocate S U Kamdar, for Indian Medical Association, said “one absconding accused is an MLA’s son”. Hiray replied that the police “are trying”. Deshmukh replied: “I will ensure they are arrested.”
He informed that the arrested accused, Shiv Sena Palghar city chief Rahul Gharat, was twice remanded to police custody. To the judge’s query whether Gharat disclosed names of the unknown persons, Hiray replied, “No. The judges questioned why the absconding accused are not traced. Justice Gadkari then questioned Palghar police superintendent Yatish Deshmukh: “What steps have you taken to trace them?
Because palghar is a separate district from Thane?’’ asked Justice Gadkari, is it.
The judges questioned how after lodging of FIR, the nine “vanished”. We’ll ask the crime branch,’’ said Justice Gadkari. The judges said “this is a sensitive case’’ where a hospital was vandalised and doctors were threatened, adding; “You are doing nothing. You have taken a casual approach,” said Justice Gadkari.
“Who gave the accused information about registration of crime? …There is no investigation at all. If you are not investigating seriously, tell us openly. The judge also asked why an adverse inference should not be drawn against the investigating officer. “Though being locals, the officer is not able to trace them. One case is not sufficient?
Mumbai: Questioning why nine out of the ten accused in the Palghar hospital staff assault case are absconding, Bombay high court on Wednesday rapped Palghar police observing that it learnt no lesson from the assault on doctors of a Dombivli municipal hospital in July.