HC asks why no case registered after open drain claimed a life

Mumbai, Jan 12 (PTI) Coming down heavily on the citypolice, the Bombay High Court today directed them to lodge anFIR regarding the death of an 11-year-old boy, who died afterfalling into open sewage drain in Worli in south Mumbai inNovember last year.

"It is not a case of natural death. The child hasfallen down a drain and died. It is a case of accidentaldeath. Why then the local police has not yet filed an FIR?"the division bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and A R Joshiasked.

The court directed Worli police to lodge a case ofaccidental death, and investigate if there was negligence onthe part of civic authorities.

"The court fails to understand why the police have notbothered to take cognisance of the offence till now.

Registration of case was inevitable," Justice Khanwilkarobserved keeping the matter for hearing on January 28.

Senior police inspector of Worli police station SudhirMahadik, who was present in court today, said, "We asked theBMC who was responsible for the open sewage drain but are yetto receive a reply."

The High Court''s direction came on a petition filed bythe victim''s father Shailesh Jadhav, who had sought policeinvestigation and registration of a case.

11-year-old Tushar Jadhav died on November 10 lastyear after falling into an open drain. PTI SPKRK