Ex-cop Julio Rebeiro moves HC in policeman assault case

Former Police Chief Julio Rebeiro has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court urging that it should monitor investigations in the case of assault on traffic policeman Sachin Suryavanshi by some MLAs.
Rebeiro has also urged the court to direct the police to withdraw the suspension of Suryavanshi against whom action had been taken for allegedly "misbehaving" with MLA Kshitij Thakur recently.
Suryavanshi had stopped Thakur's car on Bandra-Worli sea link and fined him for over-speeding on the road. The fine was imposed after an argument between them when Thakur was proceeding to attend the state Assembly session in the city.

In a subsequent development, Suryavanshi was summoned by the state Assembly to explain his conduct after Thakur moved a breach of privilege motion against him alleging that he had stopped his vehicle for over speeding and using tinted glasses. Thakur did not admit that he was over speeding.
Suryavanshi tendered an unconditional apology to the Deputy Chairman of Legislative Council Vasant Davkhare. However, he was chased and beaten up allegedly by some MLAs.
Thakur and Ram Kadam, both members of state Assembly, were arrested on charges of assault on the police officer. However, they were later granted bail.

Rebeiro pleaded that the case involves politicians and hence police may be "pressurised". He, therefore, wanted the court to intervene and supervise investigations.

"It is the duty of the court to ensure that probe should be fair and pressure should not be applied on the authorities to build up a case against the concerned policeman who was merely doing his duty," the former cop said.
Besides, the authorities should revoke the suspension of the concerned police officer, Rebeiro urged.
"The issue is not just about Suryavanshi but about a case in which a police officer was beaten up by MLAs in the vicinity of Vidhan Sabha."
The incident is "highly objectionable and deserved to be condemned," he said.
The petition, filed recently, will come up for hearing in due course.