VADODARA, Aug 19: A city court has directed the police to enquire into the case where Hiraben Bhikabhai Marwari was allegedly robbed of Rs 10,000 by three policemen from his house on August 14. According to a petition filed by Marwari, a resident of Vadsar village under Makarpura Police Station, on August 14 night three police constables came to her house, looking to arrest her father Naranbhai under Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA).The petition alleged that the policemen wanted Naranbhai to pay Rs 25,000 if he wanted the PASA case to be dropped against him. Refusal to pay up would lead to his immediate arrest, the constables reportedly threatened.
Hiraben's petition stated that the three policemen beat her father and other family members when they refused to oblige make any payments. They also looted Rs. 10,000 from her house, the petition said.
When contacted, a senior police official said that Police Inspector G J Sindhi of Makarpura Police Station had been entrusted inquiry into the case. He admitted that three D-staff members had arrested Naranbhai, a notorious bootlegger, but denied that police demanded any money or assaulted him.
Another police official said the whole "drama" was enacted by Naranbhai and his family to weaken the PASA case against him. The official added that PASA orders were not issued at police station-level, but by police commissioner and, thus, there was no question of the constables' alleged lure to help Naranbhai.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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