Cop in the dock for forcing witness to quit job

A Dombivli resident has complained to the special inspector general (prevention of atrocities against women), Pune that a cop from Vashi police station accosted her at her house and forced her to quit her job. The cop allegedly cited that he was going to arrest her boss - a builder - in a case of property feud, and could have arrested her as well but did not out of sympathy.

The Spl IG, Shobha Vohotkar, has initiated an inquiry against Assistant Police Inspector Appa Koli, after the allegation of ‘unnecessary harassment' made by Mohini Awale, who works as a receptionist at the office of M/s Build-tech Engineers and Developers in Vashi.

According to the complaint (copy available with MiD DAY), on April 21, Koli went to Awale's office with four other cops, and took away more than 100 official and personal documents without making an inventory or a panchnama, citing that he was investigating a property feud.

On April 26, Awale had been called to the Vashi police station where Inspector R N Chaudhary recorded her statement. After having her statement recorded, Awale reached her residence in Dombivli to find that Koli was standing outside her house.

"I was shocked to see Koli at my door. He had just met me at the police station. What was the need for coming to my house?" said Awale. "He told me that he could have arrested me in the case but did not. ‘It would have troubled you,' he said. ‘Now, quit that shady company. I am about to arrest your boss,' he told me," said Awale. Following the incident, on April 27, Awale complained to Vohotkar through her lawyer MK Dubey. On May 5, 2012 Vohotkar ordered (copy available with MiD DAY) a Navi Mumbai DCP to probe the matter. She also asked the DCP to take necessary action and submit an action report within 15 days.

"We have received the application against Koli. It has been forwarded for further inquiry," said Ashok Chavhan, deputy superintendent of police, Pune, who reports to Vohotkar.

Vohotkar was unavailable for comment since she was busy in a meeting.u00a0

The other side
When contacted, API Appa Koli said, "It is true that I had gone to Awale's residence but I am not aware of her complaint. I am out of Mumbai. Once I return, I will share more details with you." u00a0