Murder accused enjoys stay in hospital, HC summons top cop

The Bombay High Court today asked a top police office to appear before it with the records of the builder Sunil Loharia murder case, after the police admitted to some laxity on their part which has allowed the prime accused to stay in Thane civil hospital for over three weeks.
The division bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and Gautam Patel directed Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection), Mumbai Crime Branch, to remain present on September 20.
The order came on the petition filed by Loharia's son, Sandeep, challenging the August 14 order of Thane sessions court directing that prime accused and builder Suresh Bijlani be taken to hospital for treatment.

The petition alleges that Bijlani is enjoying many privileges at the hospital, such as use of mobile phone.
The HC ticked off the police for going soft on Bijlani, and asked them to file affidavit on the steps taken to obtain his custody back after realising that he was feigning the illness.
In particular, the affidavit must state whether senior doctors confirmed the opinion that Bijlani should be hospitalised, and whether police verified this opinion, the judge said.
Additional public prosecutor Jayesh Yagnik assured the court that in future the police will ensure that no accused, especially those accused of murder, avoid custody by getting admitted to the hospital.

In the present case, a police officer was suspended, and departmental inquiry was going on against another, he added.