Thane police have become toothless: Slain gangster Naresh Chaddi’s brother

Slain gangster Naresh Chaddi

Slain gangster Naresh Pahalajani alias Naresh Chaddi's brother has questioned the intention of the Thane police for not arresting the accused even after a court rejected their interim bail applications. The inaction gave them time to approach the Bombay High Court for relief from arrest, he said.

District judge K D Jadhav of Kalyan Sessions Court had on March 22 rejected the bail applications of former Congress corporator from Ulhasnagar Godhumal Kishnani, his son Praveen Kishnani and their domestic help Ramesh alias Ravi Valecha. He asked them to surrender before Khadakpada police station, but they haven't yet.

The trio filed an Anticipatory Bail Application (ABA) on March 25. Chaddi's brother Raju Pahalajani said the Thane police and investigating officer Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Dombivli division, J D More gave the murder accused enough time to approach the HC. Raju said he will oppose their ABA in the HC.

Former Ulhasnagar corporator Godhumal Kishnani and (right) his son Praveen

However, ACP More told mid-day, "I have no idea if they have approached the high court to file the ABA."

"If the accused failed to abide by the court's order, was it not the responsibility of the police to take action against them? But Thane police have been shielding the accused since the beginning," Raju told mid-day.

On being asked why the trio weren't arrested after failing to surrender, More told mid-day, "I am doing my investigation which is incomplete till now. Moreover, my uncle has passed away and I am busy with the funeral. Allow me some time."

Raju said, "The investigation can also be conducted after taking the accused in police custody. When free, the chances are very high that they will tamper with the evidence.

‘Intention questionable'

Raju said the intention of "Thane police in solving the case is questionable".

Calls and messages to Deputy Commissioner of Police Vivek Pansare went unanswered. Thane Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar also remained unavailable for comment. Director General of Police Rajnish Seth said, "I have just resumed office but I will enquire into the matter."

"My brother was killed in February 2016. The panel of forensic doctors submitted their report on December 19, 2019. The examination of viscera and the histopathology report gave the final cause of death as ‘asphyxia due to smothering associated with contusion and abrasions over the body (unnatural)'."

"Despite having clear indication that my brother's death was unnatural, Thane police took more than two months to register an FIR and book Kishnani, his son and Valecha.

"ACP Kalyan Anil Powar was given the charge to investigate the case and we thought he would give us justice. But he went to another level and filed a closure report in the court without conducting any investigation at all."

"And whenever I contacted him, Powar would say the investigation is stalled due to the lockdown... But suddenly, I received a letter stating that police have filed a closure report in the case. We filed a protest petition in the court and the closure report was rejected by the Kalyan Sessions court and Thane police was directed to change the investigating officer. Now, ACP of Dombivli division is in charge, but he is also good for nothing," Raju said.

"Following the cancellation of closure report, the interim relief which Godhumal and his accomplices had received from the court stood cancelled and they had to apply for the bail", which was rejected by judge Jadhav.

"When bail applications are rejected, police must take the accused in their custody. But ACP More is not taking no action. Today, Thane police have become toothless before muscleman Kishnani for the reason best known to them," said Raju.