Mumbai, January 8
Investigators of the Special Investigating Team (SIT) probing the multi-crore-rupee fake stamp paper racket today raided the home and office of Deputy Commissioner of Police Pradeep Sawant, who was arrested yesterday.
Sawant has been arrested under the tough Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act for his suspected role in the alleged racket masterminded by Abdul Karim Telgi.
Following his arrest, two teams from the SIT and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the Mumbai police raided Sawant’s residence at Parvati Sadan, Matunga, in Central Mumbai and his office at the Special Branch near the Police Headquarters in downtown Mumbai.
A large number of papers and incriminating documents were seized from the premises. Though he had a reputation of an encounter specialist, having shot dead several dreaded gangsters in Mumbai, Sawant’s role in the police came under a cloud after several of his subordinates were found to be linked with Telgi.
Several of his colleagues allegedly helped Telgi maintain a comfortable lifestyle even though he was supposed to be under arrest for masterminding the scam. Telgi was provided with expensive liquor and food from hotels in Dharavi police station. He was even allowed to go on a holiday to Goa accompanied by policemen who were supposed to guard him.
Dilip Kamath, a police inspector in charge of minding Telgi, has already been arrested. According to the charges against him, Kamath accompanied him to Goa. Similarly, Telgi broke open his flat in downtown Cuffe Parade, which had been sealed by orders of the court. He was found to be sharing his comforts with policemen.
Investigators allege Kamath and other junior officers were reporting to Sawant, who did not take action against them despite the matter being brought to his notice. After the scandal broke, Sawant was transferred to the Special Branch of the police force.
In a related development, SIT officials have asked Sameer Bhujbal, nephew of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, to present himself before investigators by January 14. Mr Bhujbal, who was supposed to have appeared for questioning last Monday, could not make it as he was still in the US.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Governor Mohammad Fazal has hit out at the SIT for “arresting only the puppets” involved in the fake stamp paper racket. “The puppeteers have so far remained beyond the police net,” he said at a function in Nagpur today. Mr Fazal reiterated his earlier demand that the racket needed to be investigated by an “independent agency”.
