Retired scientist alleges assault by house-owner

The FIR, filed at Baruipur police station by Aparash Bhattacharya and his daughter Aditi Bhattacharya, alleged that house owner Gautam Pal beat them up and tried to outrage the modesty of Aditi last Sunday for alleged non-payment of money as part of a written agreement made towards purchase of the house, the police said.

They alleged that Pal was accompanied by his wife Madhumita Pal and members of a local club "Bhai Bhai Sangha".

The additional SP (rural) Kankar Prasad Barui, said that initially in a complaint, made against the Bhattacharyas, Pal and his wife alleged that the Bhattacharyas took possession of the house illegally without paying Rs two lakh per week as agreed upon, except once.

The price of the house was fixed at Rs 40 lakh.

The Pal couple alleged that when they approached the scientist and his family requesting them to comply with the contractual obligations or else vacate the house, they were assaulted, preceded by a quarrel, Barui said.

Barui pointed out that though the incident occurred on Sunday, the Bhattacharyas did not lodge any complaint with the police then but made it only after the Pal couple did. PTI CORR MD