Petitioner Dharmaraj Singh alias Bacchi Singh had alleged that three Crime Branch officers —including late encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar — threatened to file more false cases against him unless he implicated police officer Pradeep Sharma as a co-accused and co-conspirator in three cases.

Singh had said that between September and December 2007, he was arrested and FIRs were lodged against him at local police stations on charges of land grabbing and extortion. These cases were subsequently taken over by the Crime Branch of the Mumbai police. Singh was later released on bail in all the three cases.

Singh had alleged that his non-cooperation in naming Sharma a co-accused and co-conspirator in three cases has resulted in the harassment of his relatives and friends by the Crime Branch officials.

However, an affidavit filed before the Bombay High Court by Dilip Lad, ACP, who conducted an enquiry, has rubbished all the allegations made by Singh.

According to Lad, in October 2008, while taking the statements, Salaskar had denied all the allegations levelled against him and stated that Singh was arrested in the three cases as his role was disclosed during the course of investigation. Salaskar had also stated that Singh was examined by the medical officer. It is further stated that Singh did not make any grievance about the alleged mental and physical torture before the concerned court where he was produced for remand.

The affidavit also states that the applications filed by the relatives of the petitioner have been dismissed by the State Human Rights Commission.

Salaskar had further stated that only with a view to pressurise the investigating agencies, the complaint was lodged by Singh with malafide intentions.

Police Sub-Inspector Ashok Khedkar has also denied the allegations levelled against him by Singh and gave statements similar to what Salaskar had given to the enquiry officer Lad.

Shanshank Sandbhor, police inspector, in his statement revealed that Singh’s name cropped up when he was investigating a case in which Iqbal Attarwala was arrested.

Police Sub-Inspector Jagdish Kulkarni too has denied the allegations made by Singh.

Singh had also alleged that an attack was made on his life allegedly at the instance of officers of the Crime Branch. Singh contended that he might be killed in a fake encounter.

“I came to the conclusion that the allegations made by Singh are false and baseless. Therefore the enquiry has been closed,” Lad states.

As for the attempt on Singh’s life, the CID is investigating and so far four persons of the Chhota Rajan gang have been arrested.