'Mumbai cops are shielding doctor accused of cheating'

The dispute between two hair transplant specialists has taken a curly twist with Dr Anjali Shere now accusing the Versova police of shielding Dr Vivek Nigam. Shere said that despite the court quashing Nigam's anticipatory bail on February 5, the police have not made any attempts to take him into custody.

Dr Anjali Shere and Dr Vivek Nigam

Last year, Shere had filed a cheating case against Nigam alleging that he poached her clients and their photographs to further his business. An FIR was registered under sections 406, 420, 506, 507, 509 r/w 34 of the IPC and 33(2), 36 (2) of the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act.

According to the complainant, the Versova police never tried to arrest him at that time too. Later, Dr Nigam moved the sessions court, seeking anticipatory bail. He was granted interim relief on July 26, and the court asked the police to investigate the case thoroughly.

Shere then filed a petition against the bail after which the court, during the hearing on February 5, vacated the interim relief protection granted to Nigam. "The court gave Dr Nigam seven days to approach the Bombay High court, but he didn't move for bail and the time ended.

Moreover, the Versova police never approached Dr Nigam to arrest him. Now, they are trying to save him by saying he is nowhere to be found. It is very clear that the police spared him by giving him time to escape," said Dr Shere.

"When I informed the police that Dr Nigam could be found at his clinic and should be arrested, the investigating officer said that his team was searching for him but that he was untraceable," added Dr Shere.

Several attempts were made to get in touch with investigating officer Ashok Pimple, but he did not answer his phone, or reply to the text messages sent. Meanwhile, H R Parmale, senior police inspector at Versova police station, confirmed that Dr Nigam is wanted and that they are on the lookout for him.