Court rejects discharge application by ex BJP MLA, 7 others

Mumbai, Mar 29 (UNI) A local court here today rejected an application filed by a former BJP legislator, Hemendra R Mehta, and seven others who had sought their discharge from a case in which they stand accused of abetting the suicide of one person.

While rejecting the application, additional sessions judge S P Nikam held that there was enough material evidence against the accused.

An application was filed by the eight, praying that they be discharged from the case as they were innocent and not involved in abetting the suicide of Dharmesh Zariwala.

Dharmesh Zariwala had committed suicide on April 9, 2004, unable to bear the harassment meted to his mother and sister allegedly by the eight accused since 1998 and an FIR too had been filed in this regard.

Since the persons named in the FIR had "high political connections," the police had dithered from taking action against them, according to the prosecution.

Zariwala, according to the prosecution case, had shifted residence from Borivali to Malad in order to avoid the harassment but the tormentors continued to trouble his mother and sister which drove him to commit suicide on April 9, 2004.

He had left behind a five-page suicide note naming the eight who include former BJP MLA, Vinod P Ghedia, Bansilal Ratilal Mehta, Keshni Prasad Yadav, Nilaben K Soni, J P Mishra, Shamlal Sonwal and Suresh Rawal.

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