GOING PUBLIC: ATS chief Raghuvanshi should not have divulged details,Centre unhappy: CM

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan today confirmed the Centre is unhappy about the way information has gone out and “hampered the investigations”,and expressed his own disapproval. “The details of the investigations should not have come out as the investigations may be hampered,” Chavan told reporters.

“I have not received any directives from the Centre on the issue. Centre is definitely unhappy about the way in which some information has gone outside and has hampered the investigations,” Chavan said,.

Chavan was noncommittal about the action,if any,that is likely to be taken against Raghuvanshi. He said they have read his statements in the media and would investigate the truth.

Leader of the Opposition Eknath Khadse said if Raghuvanshi’s going public with the information had hampered the investigations,then action should be taken against him. He added,however,that Raghuvanshi was a “good officer”.

Raghuvanshi today justified the arrests before representatives of Muslim groups who met him at the ATS office . Latif and Riyaz had been arrested only after specific information; these were not false arrests,Raghuvanshi assured members of the Aman Committee,Movement for Human Welfare and other groups.

These groups have been regularly meeting probe officials whenever a Muslim has been arrested and sought details on the evidence collected.

“The ATS chief gave us a patient hearing,” said Dr Azimmudin,who was part of the delegation. “We highlighted the plight of the families of Latif and Imtiaz,who belong to an economically weak section of society. He then assured us that the ATS was carrying on its investigations in a fair and proper manner,” he said.