BJP’s Kirit Somaiya moves Bombay HC, seeks CBI probe in ‘attack’ on him – India Today

Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya moved the Bombay High Court on Thursday seeking a CBI probe into the alleged attack on him by Shiv Sena workers in Mumbai last week and also demanded action against the city police for lodging a “fake and manipulated” FIR in connection with the incident.

Somaiya has also sought the high court to call for documents with respect to the FIR lodged with Bandra police station and CCTV footage of Bandra and Khar police stations and after examining the same to quash the said FIR.

The BJP leader also requested a court-monitored enquiry against the policemen and a departmental enquiry initiated against police inspectors Rajesh Devre and Mohan Mane of Bandra and Khar police stations respectively.

Somaiya, in his plea, claimed that on April 23 he was brutally attacked outside the Khar police station in suburban Mumbai allegedly by workers of the Shiv Sena, which heads the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state. Somaiya alleged that while the attack happened, the Khar policemen remained mute spectators.

After the incident, he rushed to Bandra police station to register the FIR where the policemen were reluctant to file the case. However, when they agreed, on taking his statement in a detailed manner, the Police Inspector lodged a “fake and frivolous” FIR which manipulated the facts.

Somaiya further added that the same was illegally uploaded without his signature since he refused to sign it and alleged this was done by the police to protect members of the Shiv Sena.

“The malicious intent of the police authorities is evident from the fact that the said FIR was circulated in the media and public, portraying the same as a complaint filed by the petitioner”, read the plea. Somaiya has alleged that the police authorities appeared to be busy providing specific inputs regarding his movement to political activists in order to help them instruct their workers to attack the petitioner and eliminate him.

Somaiya claimed that since he had been exposing corruption at various stages, there was a threat to his life. “It is because of this, the central government has given me Z security,” said Somaiya.

Somaiya submitted that he had become a specific target of the ruling government in the State of Maharashtra due to his crusade against corruption, pursuant to which he submitted several documents in evidence relating to the acts of corruption by sitting ministers and their relatives.

“The Mumbai Police is in gross violation of the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure and further is in violation of the constitutional guarantees of life and liberty and freedom of speech guaranteed to the citizens of India,” the plea stated.

Background

Somaiya claimed he had gone to the Khar police station to meet Independent Lok Sabha MP Navneet Rana and her MLA-husband Ravi Rana, who were taken there following arrest over the Hanuman Chalisa row.

Outside the police station, Somaiya alleged, he was attacked by an unruly mob of Shiv Sainiks.

On Monday, the Mumbai police had arrested four Shiv Sena members, including former city mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, for allegedly attacking Somaiya’s car outside the Khar police station on April 23. They were charged with rioting.