Bogus ration cards: HC raps police,asks CID to probe further

In 2009 Lok Sabha polls,the state election commission had allowed the use of ration cards as identity proof for voters.

Though chargesheet has been filed by the Navi Mumbai police in this case,division bench of Justices B H Marlapalle and R Y Ganoo noted that no attempt was made to find out the “party,organisation or individual” behind the procurement.

The judges observed that ordinarily the same investigation officer should be asked to carry out further probe,but “having regard to the spirit in which probe was conducted”,it should be handed over to the state CID.

The Court asked CID chief to appoint an ACP-level officer for further probe,and has sought first report on January 15.

The Court’s directions came on the petition filed by Shirish Gharat,a Navi Mumbai-based Shiv Sena worker,who had sought a CBI probe.

Police arrested one Dinesh Patel and recovered 5000 bogus cards from him on Gharat’s complaint in May,but he alleged that after that probe slowed down.

Patel told police that one Santosh Mhatre,an NCP worker,had placed the order for bogus cards,and he had been asked to deliver them at ‘White House’ building,which houses a company owned by state NCP minister Ganesh Naik.

Naik’s son Sanjeev Naik won Lok Sabha seat from Thane.

However,after Patel’s arrest,the probe slowed down,petition alleged,seeking CBI inquiry. However,the court today declined to hand over the probe to CBI.