The National Commission for Scheduled Castes slammed the Mumbai police and questioned its “credibility” for allegedly “failing” to solve the problems faced by Chitra Salunkhe, a dalit widow.
In 2006, then police inspector Avinash Sonavne of Azad Maidan police station had allegedly seized Ms Salunkhe’s mangalsutra. Ms Salunkhe back then had filed a case alleging some persons had broken her college locker and robbed cash and valuables.
“Mr Sonavne called me to the police station falsely alleging that there were complaints against me. When I said I don’t have anything to give except for my mangalsutra, he asked for it. I gave it to him and got out of the police station,” alleged Ms Salunkhe.
“Months later, I asked him to return my ornament failing which I would approach the police. When he did not return it, I finally approached joint commissioner Himanshu Roy in 2012 who conducted an inquiry,” said Ms Salunkhe.
“The inquiry conducted by DCP Tanaji Ghadge went on for eleven months and finally an FIR was registered against Mr Sonavne (currently
senior inspector of Mahim) in August this year. But neither have I found my mangalsutra, nor have they arrested him,” she added.
Reacting to the allegation, Mr Sonavne said, “She is making false allegations. Even I belong to the scheduled caste. But I had made some genuine reports related to her case, which were not in her favour. Once she tried to blackmail me following which I made a station diary in Gamdevi police station. If she is speaking the truth, why did she wait for over five years to lodge the case?”
Ms Salunkhe said, “I have spent `31 lakh in the legal battle since 2005, after mortgaging my house. I would have to spend another `10 lakh over the counsel before the battle ends in Supreme Court.”
Vice-chairman Dr Raj Kumar Verka told V.D. Mishra representing the DGP of Maharashtra, “At least register an FIR in the backdrop of all the allegations made by Ms Salunkhe. If you have a problem, file an affidavit against her.”