HC slams probe, sends case to crime branch

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court, on Thursday, slammed the Bandra police for making no progress in the Preeti Rathi acid attack case and expressed displeasure over the lack of facilities at stations to handle such cases.

A division bench of justice Naresh Patil and justice Revati Mohite-Dere transferred the case to the Mumbai crime branch while hearing a petition filed by Preeti’s father, Amarsingh Rathi, that sought the transfer of probe to an independent agency.

Amarsingh’s counsel, Shriprasad Kanojia said even though seven months had passed, the local police had not succeeded in tracing the accused.

The bench asked the joint commissioner of police, crime, to nominate an official of the rank of assistant commissioner to investigate the May 2 incident.

During the hearing, the judges pointed out that the number of CCTV cameras fitted on platforms were insufficient and that the quality of footage was incapable of helping the police identify Preeti’s attacker. The bench also found that the railway administra- tion and police had failed to take prompt steps soon after the attack.

Additional public prosecutor, Aruna Pai, said the local crime branch had interrogated Preeti’s relatives and 107 passengers. Pai said the police had prepared sketches of the accused. She also pointed out that the state home department had already written to the CBI, requesting it to take over the probe.