No legal provision for joint probe in hit-and-run: Police to IAF

Kolkata Police has rejected a request from the Indian Air Force for a joint probe into the sensational hit-and-run case in which an IAF officer was killed, but has requested that the airmen depute one officer to coordinate with the police force.

"The joint commissioner of police (Crime) has responded to the Air Force request for a joint investigation into the hit-and-run case by stating in written that 'one officer may be deputed to keep close coordination with us'," a defence spokesperson said here on Tuesday.

He said the letter was silent on the request for a joint probe, but "it has been conveyed verbally to the Air Force police that there are no legal provisions for a joint probe into the case".

The defence spokesperson for Kolkata region, Wing Commander S.S. Birdi said the Air Force was still awaiting a formal response to its request that the Kolkata Police provides it with a list of evidence in the case in which IAF corporal Abhimanyu Gaud was fatally hit on January 13 when he was supervising the Republic Day parade rehearsal.

The IAF has decided to set up a Court of Inquiry with regard to the case.

"As of now, the response to the letter for list of evidence is awaited. However it has been conveyed verbally by police that whatever evidence is possible to share, will be shared with the air force to enable the Court of Inquiry," Birdi said.

Sambia, son of former Rashtriya Janata Dal legislator Mohammad Sohrab, is said to have been driving his car that broke through police barricades before knocking down Gaud.

Sambia and two others have been arrested.

"We can say that the aim of both Kolkata Police and the Air Force are in conformity with each other and that both are keen to ensure faster progress in the case, hereon," Birdi said.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Police refused to comment on the issues of joint probe and handing out a list of evidence to the Air Force.

Special Additional Police Commissioner (Crime) Debasish Boral merely said police have already clarified their stand on the matter.

Boral said a fresh case under the Arms Act has been registered against Sohrab, who is absconding with his other son Ambia.

Police had directed Sohrab to surrender a fire arm in his possession after the January 13 incident. The deadline expired on Tuesday.

"As he has not surrendered the fire arm, we have initiated a case against him under the Arms Act," he said.