CBI questions Nitish Rane; Sheikh hopeful of justice

A team of CBI officials visited Nitesh Rane, son of minister Narayan Rane, at his residence on Saturday evening to question him regarding the Chintu Sheikh shootout. There is, however, no word yet on whether he will be detained or questioned further.

"I am hopeful now that I will get justice," Sheikh told Sunday Mid day after the CBI took over the case involving the politico's son who allegedly shot Sheikh on September 23, 2010. The CBI took over after being ordered by the Bombay High Court on March 24 this year. This was in response to a petition filed by Sheikh, who alleged that Rane had shot him at NGO Swabhiman Sanghatana's office last year.

After the CBI registered a case and an FIR was lodged on April 8, Shaikh said his faith in the judicial system was reinstated, and truth would prevail. "It isn't just Nitesh Rane and his associates who are the culprits. The Khar police, JJ Hospital staff and all those responsible for tampering with medical reports, and those who refused to register a case against Rane, are also to blame," he said.

Sheikh alleged that on the day of the shooting, Rane had made a number of calls to the hospital. Records of the calls he made to police officers and staff at the medical reports department were available.

"All this is a clear indication that things have been forged. It was only after the High Court took things into its hands that there was a chance of justice being meted," he added.u00a0

In his original complaint, Sheikh had said that on September 23, Rane, who was apparently furious over an issue, shot him twice at the NGO's Khar office. At the time, however, the police did not register a case and the crime branch also gave a clean chit to Rane, claiming that Sheikh had been shot by another offender.

It was on April 5 this year that the CBI spoke to Sheikh and registered a case against Rane, his three associates and three bodyguards.The police have provided Sheikh with security.