Prosecution seeks adjournment till tomorrow

Mumbai, Mar 6 (UNI) Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court today adjourned till tomorrow, the hearing on the bail applications of two BMC employees in the case of unauthorised construction of the twin 'Sara and Sahara' shopping complex at Crawford Market in South Mumbai.

The matter was listed before MCOCA Judge Ashok Bhangale for the prosecution's reply, but was adjourned on a request from the public prosectutor.

Two BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) officials--Kiran Acharekar and Shirish Salvekar--, who were exonerated in a recent departmental enquiry on the ground that there was no substantial evidence to prosecute, them have approached the MCOCA court for bail.

The two were arrested for their alleged involvement in illegal construction of twin shopping complex and are in judicial custody for the last 19 months.

The commercial complex, allegedly owned by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, was built illegally on the land belonging to Central Public Works Deaprtment (CPWD), which was 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 eleven accused, nine have been arrested so far in connection with the case. The remaining two wanted accused--Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and Shaikh Babu Chhota Shakeel-- are presently residing 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.

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