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The Opposition forced two adjournments in the Maharashtra Assembly, on Tuesday, on the issue of the suspension of a police officer who had interrogated Hasan Ali following his arrest in a false passport case in 2008, and on a report related to Ali in a Delhi newspaper. Ali, now in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate, reportedly told investigating agencies that a large portion of his money stashed away in bank accounts belonged to top Indian politicians and bureaucrats including three former Maharashtra Chief Ministers.
Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Eknath Khadse read out the news item in the Assembly and demanded an answer from the government. Speaker Dilip Walse Patil said that it was improper to raise such issues without warning and that the House could not discuss what was shown on TV or printed in some paper.
House adjourned
On Monday, the House was adjourned for the day over the suspension of deputy commissioner of police (Government railway police) Ashok Deshbhratar, who had arrested Ali in 2008 in relation with a false passport case. State Home Minister R.R. Patil, in a detailed statement in the House on Tuesday, said that Deshbhratar was suspended after a CID inquiry had confirmed his having doctored a CD containing an interview with Ali. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) contended that the police officer had, on March 15, asked the government for permission to intervene in the Supreme Court case against Ali and that the government suspended him, without reason, on March 19. The State government, said Mr. Khadse, was shielding Hasan Ali.
In the CD, Ali spoke of his contacts with top politicians and about a meeting to decide the appointment of the then Mumbai police commissioner Hasan Gafoor. Last year, the a CID inquiry was instituted after the CD was leaked to the media. Mr. Patil said the CD was doctored, the hidden camera out of focus and the voice not clear. The footage had been shot on a pen camera by Deshbhratar, whose voice could be heard clearly. Mr. Patil, as he had already done last year, denied Ali's claim that there had been a meeting between him, Ahmed Patel of the Congress and Yusuf Lakdawala, a builder in a city hotel.
‘CD doctored'
Mr. Patil said the police officer had doctored the CD to malign the government and instead of investigating the passport case he was looking at other issues. Moreover, Mr. Patil pointed out, he did not share any of this information with the seniors. The CID inquiry had recommended the dismissal of Deshbhratar under article 311 of the Constitution and a criminal case to be filed against him under sections 500 (punishment for defamation) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section three of The Police (Incitement to Disaffection) Act, 1922.
However, the government, respecting the principles of natural justice, had decided to suspend him, pending a departmental inquiry. Mr. Khadse had alleged that Hasan Ali was arrested in 2008 from the house of Yusuf Lakdawala, where he was being sheltered. The government did not take any action against Lakdawala, he said. Mr. Patil said that Deshbhratar had demanded Rs. 1 crore as bribe from Lakdawala to ensure that Ali was treated well while in police custody. The CID report said that a complaint was filed with the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) but Mr. Patil said the matter could not be investigated.
Mr. Patil said the final report of the CID inquiry was submitted on January 6, 2011. Yet the committee on promotions for police officers, which met on February 17, found Deshbhratar eligible for promotion, although it decided to keep it pending as there was an inquiry against him. The Opposition, however, took serious objection to this, questioning the delay in attributing malafide reasons for the suspension even after the government had deemed the CID inquiry complete.
‘No proof'
Mr. Khadse, moreover, quoted a report of the Additional chief secretary (ACS) (Home), in which he had said that there was no proof that Deshbhratar had recorded the interview. Devendra Phadnavis of the BJP said the ACS had, in a way, overruled the CID inquiry.
The BJP planned to give the CD and other documents to the Supreme Court and hoped for a legal intervention in the matter.
Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Eknath Khadse read out the news item in the Assembly and demanded an answer from the government. Speaker Dilip Walse Patil said that it was improper to raise such issues without warning and that the House could not discuss what was shown on TV or printed in some paper.
House adjourned
On Monday, the House was adjourned for the day over the suspension of deputy commissioner of police (Government railway police) Ashok Deshbhratar, who had arrested Ali in 2008 in relation with a false passport case. State Home Minister R.R. Patil, in a detailed statement in the House on Tuesday, said that Deshbhratar was suspended after a CID inquiry had confirmed his having doctored a CD containing an interview with Ali. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) contended that the police officer had, on March 15, asked the government for permission to intervene in the Supreme Court case against Ali and that the government suspended him, without reason, on March 19. The State government, said Mr. Khadse, was shielding Hasan Ali.
In the CD, Ali spoke of his contacts with top politicians and about a meeting to decide the appointment of the then Mumbai police commissioner Hasan Gafoor. Last year, the a CID inquiry was instituted after the CD was leaked to the media. Mr. Patil said the CD was doctored, the hidden camera out of focus and the voice not clear. The footage had been shot on a pen camera by Deshbhratar, whose voice could be heard clearly. Mr. Patil, as he had already done last year, denied Ali's claim that there had been a meeting between him, Ahmed Patel of the Congress and Yusuf Lakdawala, a builder in a city hotel.
‘CD doctored'
Mr. Patil said the police officer had doctored the CD to malign the government and instead of investigating the passport case he was looking at other issues. Moreover, Mr. Patil pointed out, he did not share any of this information with the seniors. The CID inquiry had recommended the dismissal of Deshbhratar under article 311 of the Constitution and a criminal case to be filed against him under sections 500 (punishment for defamation) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section three of The Police (Incitement to Disaffection) Act, 1922.
However, the government, respecting the principles of natural justice, had decided to suspend him, pending a departmental inquiry. Mr. Khadse had alleged that Hasan Ali was arrested in 2008 from the house of Yusuf Lakdawala, where he was being sheltered. The government did not take any action against Lakdawala, he said. Mr. Patil said that Deshbhratar had demanded Rs. 1 crore as bribe from Lakdawala to ensure that Ali was treated well while in police custody. The CID report said that a complaint was filed with the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) but Mr. Patil said the matter could not be investigated.
Mr. Patil said the final report of the CID inquiry was submitted on January 6, 2011. Yet the committee on promotions for police officers, which met on February 17, found Deshbhratar eligible for promotion, although it decided to keep it pending as there was an inquiry against him. The Opposition, however, took serious objection to this, questioning the delay in attributing malafide reasons for the suspension even after the government had deemed the CID inquiry complete.
‘No proof'
Mr. Khadse, moreover, quoted a report of the Additional chief secretary (ACS) (Home), in which he had said that there was no proof that Deshbhratar had recorded the interview. Devendra Phadnavis of the BJP said the ACS had, in a way, overruled the CID inquiry.
The BJP planned to give the CD and other documents to the Supreme Court and hoped for a legal intervention in the matter.