Pujari’s underworld links: Senior cop to remain present in HC today

A senior police officer will remain present before the Bombay High Court on Tuesday to state whether the police have taken any action to probe allegations against a police officer of having underworld links.

The allegations were made against Assistant Commissioner of Police Sudhakar Pujari, who was the investigating officer in the case of an alleged answer paper scam of Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC).

A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and K K Tated asked for Pujari's service records and placed the matter for hearing on Tuesday.

Additional public prosecutor Aruna Pai said a police officer of the rank of Additional Commissioner of Police will be present before the court.

On January 22, the state government was asked to file an affidavit stating whether any inquiry was initiated against Pujari. However, as no affidavit was filed till Monday, the judges asked a senior officer to remain present to answer queries.

A petition in this regard was filed by NGO National Amnesty and Redemption Organisation International Trust. The petitioners have pointed out that a number of high-ranking police officers, including the then Mumbai Commissioner of Police and the Director General of Police, had made notes on files stating that Pujari had underworld links. The NGO also claims that no inquiry has been initiated against him and that he is still in service.

Pujari, however, has contended that the allegations were made as he conducted an impartial probe into the MPSC scam. The incident reportedly took place in 2001, when marksheets were manipulated during the examination for police sub-inspectors, inspectors and assistant inspectors of sales tax.

Pujari is posted with the police training division at Naigaon.

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