Prosecution will aurgue on BMC officials bail tomorrow

Mumbai, Mar 5 (UNI) The bail applications of two BMC officials, involved in the unauthorised construction of two 'Sara and Sahara' shopping complexes in South Mumbai allegedly owned by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, will be decided tomorrow by the MCOCA court.

Kiran Acharekar and Shirish Salvekar -- employees of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation -- were exonerated in the departmental inquiry (DI) on the grounds that there were no substantial evidence to prosecute them. The duo were in custody since last 19 months.

After the departmental inquiry report the duo had filed bail application in the MCOCA court where Judge Ashok Bhangale is presiding over the case.

In the last hearing defence counsel Nilesh Pawaskar prayed for their bail since the high-powered committee, set to enquire into their involvement in the construction of the twin shopping complex, had exonerated them and had recommended their reinstatement.

The Sara and Sahara commercial complex, allegedly owned by Dawood Ibrahim, was built illegally on the land belonging to Central Public Works Deaprtment (CPWD), reserved for a Municipal school.

However, the accused obtained permission, allegedly in connivance with the BMC officials, and constructed 380 shops and 70 storage rooms in the twin complex.

Of the 11 accused, nine have been arrested so far in the case.

The remaining two wanted accused--Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and Shaikh Babu Chhota Shakeel are presently in Pakistan.

The court has already framed charges against the accused -- Abdul Rehman Shaikh, Abdul Sattar, Iqbal Hassan Ibrahim Kaskar, Tariq Parveen and Gulab Nabi and civic employees--Kiran Achrekar, Shirish Salvekar, Narendra Rajbhar and Hasmukh Shah.

The trial against them will resume from March nine before the MCOCA court.

UNI ST MJ YA KN1846