15 January,2011 06:29 AM IST | | Akela
Businessman claims cop who physically assaulted him boasted of being RR Patil's classmate
A new case of being tortured in legal detention has surfaced. In a writ petition filed by Manish Shah, a Kandivli-based businessman has alleged that he was tortured and kept in lock-up for 35 hours by the Thane crime branch (rural) without being given any reason.
Shah alleges the entireincident started on January 9, 2011 at 6.20 am when some officials from Thane crime branch came to his residence and escorted him to Kashimira police station.
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The Thane cops tortured businessman Manish Shah on January 9-10 without citing any legal reason
Shah recalls his pleading with the officialsto tell him why he was detained, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.
He said he was handcuffed in a room and when he asked to be let free to urinate the following day, the cop on-duty gave him a bottle.
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Shah said that the embarrassment did not end there and later; he was taken to the crime branch unit attached to the Thane Rural headquarters.
He alleges that the officer Fatehsinh Patil and another officer Pohe physically abused him with a leather belt and shoes.
Shah suspects the entire ordeal he underwent was on the behest of S Jamble, an owner of a chemical company, with whom a deal had gone sour.u00a0
In his petition, Shah, a manager with Siddhivinayak Enterprises, had struck a deal with S Jamble, who owned Shriram chemicals.
When a Rs 9 lakh deal went south, Jamble insisted that Shah make good the money, as he was the manager.
Shah claims that the loss of money led to Jamble approaching the police to beat him up. However, when the torture became too much, Jamble backed out and told the officers to take the money from Shah.
Shah says the officers kept beating him from 9 pm to 1.30 am.
When Shah tried to reason with Patil, he said, "Main RR Patil ka classmate hoon. Mera koi kucch nahin bigaad sakta. Yeh paisa Jamble ka nahin, mera hain, aur tujhe dena hi padega. (I am RR Patil's classmate and no one can do anything to me. The money is not Jamble's, it is mine and you have to pay me.)"
Later, Patil asked Shah to arrange three guarantors who could ensure that the money would be paid in a week's time. Shah summoned his wife Kamini, brother-in-law Mayank Ashar and friend Deepak Thakkar on January 10.
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Patil took photographs of Shah and his family members before they were coerced to sign on a paper. The victim was released a few hours later. After being released, Patil was suffering from acute body pain and had to be admitted to Bhagwati Hospital.
Shah says he was traumatised and has decided to take action against the erring officers after other police
personnel refused to take any action. He, with his lawyer Manoj Singh, filed a writ petition in Borivli court on January 11.
On January 17, the court has decided the first date for hearing. "I have filed a writ petition seeking action on
the policemen under Section 166, 168, 340, 342, 348, 386 r/w section 34 or 120 (b) of the IPC," said Manoj Singh.
Other Side
When MiD DAY spoke to Patil, he refuted all of Shah's claims. He said, "I had called Shah after receiving an application. But the matter is now settled. I simply asked Shah to sign some papers. He is lying. Also, there is a big age difference between RR Patil and me. Then, how could I claim him to be my classmate.
