‘Probe almost completed against cops at Mumbai mafia party’
By IANSThursday, January 21, 2010
MUMBAI - The Mumbai Police have almost completed their probe into the incident of five of their senior officers and a constable attending a Christmas party thrown by a mafia don, a senior officer said Thursday.
“Our investigations into the incident have been almost completed. I plan to submit my report on it by next week, or latest by the month-end,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Milind Bharambe told IANS.
However, he declined to comment on the probe’s findings against the five - DCP V.N. Salve, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Prakash Wani, Senior Inspector of Chembur Police Station R.S. Khankale, Inspector S. Kolhatkar and constable T. Salunkhe.
The state government ordered their suspension after video-clips of the party - hosted by some members of the absconding don Chhota Rajan’s gang in Chembur Gymkhana - showing some of these policemen eating, drinking and dancing were aired by television news channels.
Police Commissioner D.Shivanandan Jan 3 recommended the suspension of the officers and sent the video clips to the state home department.
Chief Minister Ashok Chavan announced the suspension of the officers the very next day, and a departmental inquiry was launched against them.
The Christmas party was ostensibly to celebrate the release of some members of Chhota Rajan gang and those present included the don’s alleged henchmen D. K. Rao, Farid Tanasha, Sunil Poddar and his wife Sujata Nikhalje, who is respectfully referred to as “Nani” (grandmother) by the gangsters.
