Loharia's murder case: HC orders Maha to form SIT to probe

PIL filed by activist Ketan Tirodkar alleged that the accused were being shielded by police and sought a CBI probe into the murder

The Bombay High Court has asked Maharashtra Government to constitute a Special Investigative Team (SIT) to probe the murder of Navi Mumbai builder Sunil Loharia, observing that it was a serious crime.

A bench headed by Justice P V Hardas ordered SIT to probe the murder while admitting a PIL which alleged improper investigations by police.

The SIT would be headed by an officer not less than the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Police who will be assisted by the investigating officer in this case, the bench ruled and said that the SIT probe would be monitored by the Joint Commissioner of Police (crime).

The SIT would submit reports periodically to the court and the first such report would be tendered on April 30, the Judges further ruled.

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The Mumbai Crime branch, which is probing the case, had earlier handed over the case diaries in a sealed cover to the court.

The court perused the diaries before ordering SIT to probe the matter.

The probe was earlier done by Navi Mumbai police, but later the case was transferred to Mumbai Crime Branch.

Loharia was shot dead in broad daylight outside his Navi Mumbai office on February 16 last year.

Tirodkar said no efforts were being made to conduct a sincere probe as senior police officers were allegedly involved. On the contrary, he alleged, efforts were being made to shield the guilty. Hence, he was asking a CBI probe.

The PIL said Loharia had himself filed a petition in the High Court alleging 600 illegal buildings in Navi Mumbai, including 21 towers being built illegally on Palm Beach Road.

Loharia had also urged the court that his petition be heard expeditiously as his life was in danger. Four days after that he was killed, Tirodkar said, and produced a letter written by the victim in this regard to the court registrar.

Tirodkar alleged that Loharia's son had also received a threat on phone warning him against filing police complaint.

The petitioner also alleged that there was political pressure on Loharia by a Maharashtra Cabinet minister who had asked him not to take up illegal construction issue.