CBI wants to close firing case against Nitesh Rane

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday approached the Bombay High court, requesting it to close a case against Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Nitesh Rane, who is also the son of Congress leader Narayan Rane. Nitesh Rane has been accused of firing at Shamim Chintu Shaikh, a member of his Swabhimaan Sanghatana. The High Court, however, asked CBI to first make Shaikh a respondent in the case.

Nitesh Rane is accused of firing at Shaikh in 2010

CBI, through its counsel Hiten Venegaonkar, approached Justice Ajay Gadkari to close the case against Rane. The CBI had earlier approached its special court that had rejected its plea to close the case, and had asked it (CBI) to re-investigate the case.

"You first make the victim Chintu Shaikh a party in the case and serve copies of the petition of closure to him and we will keep the matter for hearing after three weeks," said Justice Gadkari.

Since 2014, the CBI has been making attempts to close the case against Rane, saying they have not found any evidence, nor were they able to find any eyewitness in the case. Shaikh, who had earlier challenged the CBI decision of closing the case, later settled the matter with Rane and had withdrawn his case. But Rane's application for quashing of the FIR in 2014 was opposed by CBI on the grounds that it was making attempts to close the case and will file closure report soon.

The case
Shamim Shaikh, who was the vice president of the transport wing of Swabhimaan Sangathana, had alleged that Nitesh had fired two rounds at him in Swabhimaan's office in Khar on September 23, 2010. Two bullets had brushed past his cheeks and he had got himself admitted to Hiranandani Hospital in Powai.

The Khar police had registered an FIR of attempt to murder against Rane, his aide Nitin Vardhanarayan and Zaheed Shaikh. The Bombay High Court had transferred the case to CBI in March 2011.