Police submit progress report to HC in Loharia murder case

The Crime Branch of Mumbai Police today submitted to the Bombay High Court a progress report on investigations into the murder of Navi Mumbai builder Sunil Loharia.
The reports were submitted to a bench of Justices P V Hardas and Anuja Prabhudessai in their chambers by the crime branch sleuths.
The police informed the court that one more accused had been recently arrested in the case.
The bench adjourned the hearing for four weeks.
The court is hearing a PIL filed by activist Ketan Tirodkar seeking a CBI probe in this case alleging that police were "shielding" the accused.
Earlier, the state government had informed the court that nothing incriminating had been found against top police officers in regard to their alleged nexus with the accused in the murder of the builder.

The state had submitted a copy of a letter in this regard written by Director General of Police to Sandeep Loharia, son of the slain builder, who had alleged that police were "protecting" the accused.

The Mumbai Crime branch had earlier handed over the case diaries in a sealed cover to the court.
The probe was earlier being done by Navi Mumbai police, but later the case was transferred to Mumbai Crime Branch. Loharia was shot dead outside his Navi Mumbai office on February 16 last year.
Tirodkar had 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.