29 May,2009 02:58 PM IST | | PTI
Over four months after the CBI registered case against police official Nikhil Kapse in the Hari Masjid firing case, investigators are yet to make any headway in the case or file the chargesheet, which has to be ideally filed within 90 days.
The CBI has till now recorded the statement of only Farooq Mapkar, against whom the police had filed FIR for rioting but after his acquittal recently, Mapkar was made complainant in the case against the police for opening indiscriminate firing.
According to Mapkar, on the day of the incident, January 10, 1993, he was offering Namaz at Hari Masjid in suburban Wadala when several police officials led by senior police inspector Nikhil Kapse opened fire inside the Masjid killing six persons and injuring several others.
When contacted, CBI officials said, "We cannot divulge any information as the investigation is still on. It is a 16-year-old case and hence it is difficult to dig out all information and establish Kapse's role."
However, in February last year while filing a reply to the writ filed before the Bombay High Court had said that the investigation was simple and it should not be difficult for the agency to conclude the case in a short period using minimum resources.
The investigating agency had also said that the chargesheet would be ready in 15 days. Kapse, who is presently serving as senior police inspector at suburban Vakola police station, has been booked under sections 302, 307 and 324 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for murder, attempt to murder and causing grievous hurt.
Advocate Shakil Ahmed appearing for Mapkar said that several crucial eyewitnesses in the case reside in the locality near the Masjid and tracking them would not be very difficult for the agency.
