HC seeks probe details of atrocities case filed by Sameer Wankhede against Malik

The Bombay High Court on Thursday sought details from the city police of the probe into a case registered against NCP leader Nawab Malik under the Atrocities Act on a complaint of IRS officer Sameer Wankhede reported news agency PTIWankhede the additional commissioner in the Directorate General of Taxpayer Services DGTS and a member of the Mahar Scheduled Caste last week moved the HC seeking the case to be transferred to the CBI alleging inaction by the policeA division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan directed for Mumbais Goregaon police stations officer concerned to remain present on the next date along with the case diary reported PTIThe court said it shall be apprised of the details of the investigation in two weeksWankhede in his plea filed through advocate Sana Raees Khan has alleged that the polices inaction in the matter has caused him and his family significant mental distress and humiliation reported PTIIn August 2022 the Indian Revenue Services IRS officer lodged a complaint with the Goregaon police against former Maharashtra minister Malik under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act reported PTIThe complaint alleged that Malik had during interviews and in his social media posts made defamatory remarks against Wankhede and his family members based on his caste reported PTIMalik has neither been arrested in the case nor has a chargesheet been filed in it till dateIn his petition filed on November 20 in the HC Wankhede claimed the police have not carried out any probe into the case till date and hence sought for the same to be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation CBIThe IRS officer also sought for the probe to be monitored by the courtThe lackadaisical approach of the police machinery has caused grave injustice to the pain and mental distress suffered by the petitioner Wankhede and his family members on being humiliated and defamed on the basis of their caste and race the plea claimed reported PTIIn 2021 Wankhedes father filed a defamation suit in the HC against Malik and the court then directed Malik to desist from making any further remarks it saidDespite the restraining order Malik continued to make slanderous and defamatory comments against Wankhede and his family members the petition claimedThe Respondent No 2 Malik wields political power and has hence influenced the police machinery and thereby tampering with the probe in the case it added reported PTIWankhede claimed Maliks remarks came after he arrested his soninlaw Sameer Khan in a drugs case in 2021 reported PTIThe IRS officer alleged that after Khans arrest Malik launched a sustained campaign to defame and humiliate him and his family on social media and television targeting their caste and questioning the authenticity of his caste certificateThe officer earlier also filed a complaint with the Scheduled Caste Commission in October 2021 seeking action against MalikWith inputs from PTI