RailEnquiry

While the investigating agency has found sufficient evidence in favour of the four Government Railway Police (GRP) constables accused by Habibullah Khan of them pushing him out of a train on August 17, their future now rests on a pending truce between the GRP and the Railway Protection Force (RPF). The GRP opposed the bail of RR Jedhe, VP Thakur, SS Patil, and SM Mangaonkar on September 7, saying they were awaiting the CCTV footage from Chembur station, which is pertinent in deciding if the attempt to murder charges can be dropped against the four. Assistant commissioner of police (GRP), Sunil Malusure said, “The RPF is yet to send us the crucial CCTV footage from Chembur station despite sending them a request. They first said they lost the footage due to power failure and then that the hard disk had been replaced. I can’t understand their reservations in sharing the footage.” Defending the RPF, deputy superintendent of police (RPF), Alok Bora said, “The RPF always helps with investigations but the cameras at Chembur can retain footage for only 7 days. Their request came later than that.” But Malusure said their cyber cell could retrieve the footage if they were given the hard disk. “The company which installed the cameras wrote back saying they will share the disk only if the RPF writes to them. Now, I have to approach the court and get the necessary orders before any evidence can be tampered. If this happens, the RPF may be liable under section 201 of the IPC,” he said. The footage is essential to validate the constables’ claim that Khan named them only as he had seen the day of the incident. His family also alleged that he was extorted by them at Chembur a day before the incident. The four are in judicial custody till September 13. p_sunchika@dnaindia.net