Senior police inspector Ramchandra Deshmukh and sub-inspector Sanjay Yadav of the Turbhe MIDC police were suspended on Tuesday for allegedly registering a case against Sanjay Jain, one of the directors of Metro Developers, without any evidence, and for trying to extort ₹5 crore from his son, Hitesh.
The Turbhe MIDC police arrested Mr. Jain in October 2017 after a complaint was registered by Airoli-based property investor Ketan Chugh. Mr Chugh had alleged that the directors and partners of Metro Developers, Yash Developers and Fine Arts Project Management Consultants had cheated him by forging documents with an intention to usurp a plot in Nerul.
Mr. Chugh said he had purchased the plot in 2008. In 2017, he claimed to have learnt that Metro Developers had started a project called The Palms on the same plot, and approached the police. The case was being investigated by Mr. Yadav.
Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale said, “Mr Jain filed an application alleging that a false offence had been registered against him at the insistence of Mr. Chugh. In the inquiry conducted by the Crime Branch, it has been revealed that Mr. Chugh and builders Sunil Bhanushali, Sunny Lahoria and Mr. Yadav had registered the offence in connivance and Mr. Jain had been arrested illegally. His son was wrongly confined on the night of Diwali and was asked give ₹5 crore.”
As per the complaint filed by Hitesh Jain, a case of extortion was registered against Mr. Yadav, Mr. Chugh, Mr. Bhanushali and Mr. Lahoriya with the Turbhe MIDC police on January 19. It is being investigated by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Nilesh Raut.
Mr. Nagrale said, “Prima facie, it is found that Mr. Deshmukh, the supervisory officer of Turbhe MIDC police station, facilitated the complaint filed by Mr. Chugh without ascertaining facts or verifying documents, with an intention to benefit from it. Mr. Yadav did not follow the guidelines for investigating an economic offence and made arrests in haste.”
He said the conduct of both the officers was demeaning to the image of the police department, and hence suspended them with immediate effect.
