Maharashtra’s Director General of Police P S Pasricha is looking into the allegations of torture and brutality by the Mumbai police in the 7/11 investigations after relatives of the accused and suspects filed sworn affidavits with the Prime Minister’s Office and Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh’s office.

The DGP was asked by Deshmukh to look into the allegations of torture. The CM forwarded the copies of 10 affidavits to DGP Pasricha in the last week of September. Pasricha said, “I recently received the affidavits. It needs a thorough probe. I can’t say anything about it unless I have looked into the matter in detail.”

After the families filed the affidavits in September, a delegation of eight Muslim MPs had met the Chief Minister. The police were then instructed not to harass the Muslim community in general and the city police chief, A N Roy, circulated a letter to the Muslim leaders in Urdu, asking them to contact him in case of any complaints or grievances.

The relatives, including those of the alleged kingpins Faisal and Muzammil Sheikh, alleged that police used “fourth-degree” methods, holding women and old relatives hostage to extract confessions from the accused or ensure the arrests of suspects.

“Such methods were used during the investigation of 1993 blasts as well.

These people have been brave to come forward and file affidavits. These affidavits will obviously hold,” said human rights activist advocate Maharukh Adenwalla.

Faisal Sheikh, who allegedly planted the bomb in the Jogeshwari train, and his brother Muzammil were arrested on July 27. However, the family’s nightmare began on July 20 when the police raided their Mira Road residence at 9:30 pm.

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