'Loharia had informed HC about threat to his life'

Hearing a public interest litigation seeking CBI probe into the murder of Navi Mumbai-based builder Sunil Loharia, Bombay High Court today allowed the petitioner to produce documents to show that the deceased feared for his life because he had exposed an illegal construction.
Petitioner, former journalist Ketan Tirodkar alleges that the police probe was being conducted in a haphazard way and some accused were still absconding.
Tirodkar today said that Loharia had filed a petition in the High Court last year alleging unauthorised construction at Palm Beach road in Navi Mumbai. He had written a letter to the Registrar of High Court, and informed that his own life might be in danger.

Tirodkar contended that he had this letter and the documents annexed to it, but needed time to produce them.
The division bench headed by Justice P V Hardas gave him two weeks.
Meanwhile, Government Pleader Aruna Pai informed that the police had already filed chargesheet against eight persons. Another person was arrested recently and two more would be nabbed soon.
Chargesheet names following persons who are arrested: alleged shooters Venkatesh Shettiar and Wajid Kureshi, former 'encounter specialist' police officer Emmanuel Amolik, developer Sumit Bachewar, contractor Altaf Khan, estate agent Bhaijaan alias Mohammed Ansari and Francis Chawri, a hired criminal, and Kailash Dumane. Suresh Bijlani, another builder, was arrested recently.

Loharia was shot dead outside his Navi Mumbai office on February 16, 2013.