Mumbai: Residents allege cop partiality, cases transferred to ACP

CCTV grab of the Patekar family and other society members vandalising Kruti Samiti’s make-shift office on December 19

The cross complaints filed by members of an SRA project in Dhobi Ghat have been transferred to the assistant commissioner of police (Bhoiwada division) after both parties levelled allegations of cop partiality. The cases were filed in mid-December last year after a confrontation between two groups of people involved in the SRA project.

The Slum Rehabilitation Authority project was launched in Dhobi Ghat, Worli in 2012 and Om Omega Shelters was appointed as the developer for the project. The rehabilitation building has been partially completed, but the SRA has issued a stop work notice for the commercial building to the builder after some of the residents alleged non-payment of rent by the developer. The residents eligible for rehabilitation have formed a society named Shiv Ganesh and Shiv Sainath Housing Society. Meanwhile, another faction has formed Dhobi Ghat Om Duttaji Nagar Kruti Samiti to fight with the builder. Members of the registered housing society and that of Kruti Samiti often engage in altercations.

Anjali Patekar, daughter of Shiv Ganesh Housing Society Chairman Lav Patekar, was assaulted by members of Dhobi Ghat Om Duttaji Nagar Kruti Samiti on December 18

The confrontation

The incident, which is under probe, started on December 18 when Anjali Patekar, daughter of Shiv Ganesh Housing Society Chairman Lav Patekar, and her sister Manisha Singh went to meet members of Kruti Samiti alleging that their signatures were forged by the group. Their conversation got heated up and seven people including Varlaxmi Bhatkar, Mahesh Chetipalli, Ramesh Chetipalli and others assaulted Patekar, as per the complaint.

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Manisha's husband Mahendra told mid-day, "Anjali was beaten up badly and had to be hospitalised for a week. However, the cops registered a case of rioting and voluntarily causing hurt (Section 324 of the IPC) against the accused. When we asked why they were not adding charges of attempt to murder under Section 307, the cops did not give us any explanation."

Anil Kumbhare, additional commissioner (Central region)

The next day, Manisha, her brother Vijay and others went to the shop at the under-construction rehabilitation building where members of Kruti Samiti sit and broke their TV, computer and scanner. Worli police booked eight people in connection with this incident under IPC Sections 452 (house trespass), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and others.

Allegations of partiality

After the second case was registered, Patekar family along with other members of the registered housing society met with Senior Inspector Anil Koli to question why those who assaulted Anjali were not booked under strict sections. Citing that Kruti Samiti members were not eligible for rehabilitation, they also asked how Kruti Samiti complained of house trespass when they are not the owner of the premises. However, Koli did not give any satisfactory answers.

Gurvi Golar, a member of Shiv Ganesh Housing Society who has written to the police commissioner and additional commissioner about the issue, said, "We have been complaining against the people who assaulted Anjali since 2019 as they have threatened us earlier too. The attack on Anjali was the result of police inaction despite our past complaints."

"I had also sought preventive action against the group. I have learned, through an RTI, that the assistant inspector was ordered to take action, but did not," she added.

Another member, Baby Ishwar Solanki, said, "We fear for our lives as police's inaction has emboldened the miscreants. They assaulted the workers and stopped them from carrying out construction. Had police taken impartial action, the work on the building would have been completed by now."

Ravi Chettipalli, a member of Kruti Samiti, however, alleged that the police, especially SI Koli, were hand in glove with the builder and society members. "We are not happy with the police's attitude, especially that of Anil Koli. They are helping the society office-bearers and the developer even as we are fighting for the rights of the tenants."

Police action

Following the complaints of partiality from both the sides, Additional Commissioner (Central Region) Anil Kumbhare has transferred both the cases to the ACP. "There were complaints about the probe by the police, hence for impartial and fair investigation we have transferred the probe to ACP (Bhoiwada) division. The officer has been asked to probe and report the findings and direct accordingly," he said.

When contacted by mid-day, SI Koli refused to comment on the matter.

18 Dec
Day in 2022 when the first confrontation took place