Can transfer probe to CBI, warns HC

The Bombay High Court on Thursday warned the state police that it may transfer a case, in which several senior IPS officers are accused of shielding their colleague, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), thereby vacating its own earlier order.

The case pertains to Chitra Salunkhe, the former vice-principal of Sidhharth Law College, who alleged that K L Bishnoi, currently serving as Inspector General (Protection of Civil Rights), passed his final-year law examination through unfair means. She claimed he was absent for a practical exam and colluded with the college principal I A Inamdar to obtain marks.

She also accused seven IPS officers — Nagpur Joint Commissioner of Police Sanjay Saxena, Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Rakesh Maria, Additional Commissioner of Police (West) Vishwas Nangre-Patil, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Brijesh Singh, Additional CP (South) Naval Bajaj and Additional Director Generals of Police Pankaj Gupta and Mohan Rathod — of shielding Bishnoi.

Appearing for the state government, Advocate General Darius Khambata had earlier noted that there were cases pending against Salunkhe, including one pertaining to an alleged fake BA degree. In the hearing on Thursday, Salunkhe filed an affidavit in which she referred to a letter purportedly issued by the Kakatia University, from where she is alleged to have received the fake degree. She cited an RTI reply in which it was revealed that the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), to which the purported letter was addressed, had not received any such letter. She also questioned why Bishnoi took interest in the matter in spite of having no relation to it, pointing to two letters sent by him to the university in June and December 2005.

The Bench of Justices V M Kanade and P D Kode said, "Things are getting murkier. Words are inadequate to describe the shocking nature of this case."

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