Twenty-six-year-old man’s sister writes to Thane police commissioner requesting him to intervene in the matter as the police were allegedly refusing to add the attempt to murder charge in the FIR; senior inspector of Vartak Nagar police station says they are in the process of doing so
Sagar Nichal had to undergo an operation due to the severe head injury; (right) Sagar Nichal. Pics/Rajesh Gupta
A day after mid-day’s report about a restaurant’s staff thrashing a 26-year-old over an alleged unpaid bill, the Vartak Nagar police recorded the victim Sagar Nichal’s statement in the hospital on Thursday. They also called a witness for an additional statement. However, as there still has been no arrest in the matter, Nichal’s family has written to the Thane police chief requesting addition of section 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC in the FIR.
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On December 18, Sagar and his friend Prathmesh Rajput were allegedly beaten up by Upvan’s Skyline Terrace owner Harsh Bhanushali, Shubham Lawand and two others. Nichal was beaten up so badly that his skull cracked. Doctors removed four pieces of his skull and replaced them with a titanium mesh. He is currently recovering in Thane’s Jupiter Hospital. Five days since the incident, the police haven’t arrested any of the accused.
‘Argued for hours for FIR’
On Thursday, Mayuri Khatavkar, Nichal’s sister, wrote a letter to the Thane Police Commissioner, Jaijeet Singh, requesting his personal attention in the matter. “After the incident, when we went to the police station, they simply refused to register the complaint. We literally argued with the cops for 3 to 4 hours to lodge the FIR. In fact they didn’t add section 307 and instead put 326 [voluntarily causing grievous hurt]. They are simply not cooperating with us and are trying to shield the accused,” Khatavkar said.
After mid-day’s report, the Vartak Nagar police started acting on Thursday. DCP Dr Sudhakar Pathare having additional charge of zone 5, said, “I have instructed an inspector to verify the facts properly and take action accordingly”.
The police went to Jupiter Hospital and registered the statement of Nichal and called Rajput for an additional statement. They also started the process to add section 307 to the FIR. Vartak Nagar police station’s Senior Inspector Sadashiv Nikam said, “We are in the process of adding the section to the FIR, soon the accused will be arrested too.”