Rights body directs bizman to pay monetary damages to cops

He levelled charges of torture, extortion against crime branch

Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) has recently directed a businessman to pay monetary damages to the Mumbai Crime Branch for having launched fallacious, unfounded complaint against the police. The businessman had approached the MSHRC alleging assault and extortion by the police but the enquiry into the matter revealed that the allegations made by the businessman were false.

In fact the businessman had taken money from the family of Sameer Alwari (arrested last year by crime branch for running illegal telephone exchange), on the pretext of paying to the police to get Sameer released on bail.

In May last year, Mumbai

Crime Branch sleuths following a tip-off from the Military Intelligence, had arrested Govandi resident Sameer Alwari (38) for allegedly running illegal telephone exchange. One Mohammad Arshad Khan had later approached MSHRC stating that on June 5, one of his acquaintance, Mussadin Alwari came to his garment shop with a request for immediate help for releasing his cousin Sameer Alwari arrested by the police. Khan immediately contacted his friend lawyer who agreed to appear for accused and apply for bail after submission of chargesheet before the court and also demanded legal fee of around Rs 7.50 lakh.

On June 10, five policemen in plain clothes reached his garment shop and asked him to accompany them to the Chembur crime branch office. Khan had alleged that there he was humiliated and assaulted with a wooden stick and was also threatened by the police to arrest him on a false charge of extortion. Khan had alleged that the police demanded Rs 10 lakh from him, Khan had claimed before the Commission.

The probe wing of the MSHRC and crime branch conducted an enquiry and learnt that it was Khan who by taking advantage of Alwari's family, made them part with money on the pretext of paying it to the crime branch for releasing Sameer.