Pressure from then Home Minister not to arrest Mr Wale: IO

Mumbai, Apr 12 (UNI) Former Assistant Commissioner of Police and Investigating Officer (IO) Shankar Kamble today told the MCOCA court that due to pressure from the then Home Minister, he did not arrest Assistant Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Wale in the alleged illegal construction case of Sara Sahara twin shopping complexes in South Mumbai.

Mr Kamble deposed before MCOCA court Judge Mridula Bhatkar here as an IO in the illegal construction of the Sara Sahara case.

Replying to a query raised by Defence Advocate Shrikant Shivade, Mr Kamble said there was sufficient evidence against Mr Wale to book him under MCOCA and accordingly he had put up a proposal to the then Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner had recommended, however, in between he had received instructions from the Home Department stating not to arrest Mr Wale.

The investigating officer said he had put a proposal for the arrest of Mr Wale, it was turned down again by the Ministry.

Mr Kamble further stated that he had made no complaint pertaining to pressure from the then Home Minister to any senior official, including the Chief Minister, though he had written it in a correspondence to his superior.

To another query, Mr Kamble replied that in previous cases as well, he had not been able to arrest the accused due to the pressure.

His cross examination concluded today, while another Investigating officer will be deposed on Tuesday.

UNI