CID asked to complete probe in Provogue owner case in 6 weeks

Mumbai, Jan 17 (PTI) The Bombay High Court today directedthe Maharashtra CID to complete within six weeksinvestigations into a complaint filed by Provogue owner SalilChaturvedi against cops for allegedly planting three vials ofcocaine in his suburban house in 2005.

Chaturvedi was arrested after he was allegedly found inpossession of three grams of cocaine at his Lokhandwalabungalow in Mumbai in August 2005. However, the police failedto prove the case following which he was acquitted by aspecial NDPS court in April, 2009.

Chaturvedi had, however, approached the High Courtaccusing police officials of implicating him and allegedlyplanting cocaine in his house.

The High Court had in December 2009 transferred the caseto the CID and directed it to register an FIR. "Ever since theCID has taken up the case, they have been seeking extensionsto complete their investigations. Even the investigatingofficers are being constantly changed," Chaturvedi''s lawyerAyaz Khan said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ramesh Kade, who hasbeen investigating the case since January last year has nowbeen removed from this case and a new investigating officerhas been appointed.

A division bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and A RJoshi observed, "Why is the investigation not yet over. Therehas been no headway in the case since December 2009."

The court has also now directed the government not tochange the investigating officer in the case.