Did cops allow attack on Rajiv Prabhu?

Video footage with MiD DAY shows Shivaji Nagar police stand by as Prabhu was brutally assaulted in December 2008

Did cops allow attack on Rajiv Prabhu?

Video footage with MiD DAY shows Shivaji Nagar police stand by as Prabhu was brutally assaulted in December 2008

Did the Shivaji Nagar police supervise the near fatal attack on Rajiv Prabhu? At least that's how it seems in the video footage available with MiD DAY.

The video shows a then senior inspector, inspector, a police sub-inspector along with a dozen policemen of Shivaji Nagar police station standing by as mute spectators when Prabhu's house was ransacked allegedly by Shivaji Mankar's henchmen in December 2008. Shivaji is the brother of corporator Deepak Mankar.

An investigation report against the cops has been finalised, but the police have held back the names of cops involved in the matter. But the video footage shows then senior inspector Rahulkumar Yeole, sub-inspector Sandeep Bhaurao Ghorpade and other cops present at the assault scene in Mukundandand on Fergusson College Road.

Additional Commissioner of Police (south region) Prabhat Kumar confirmed that the report has been finalised. "It is with Commissioner Dr Satyapal Singh," he said. However, he did not reveal the names of Yeole, who is currently posted in Thane, and Ghorpade, who is still at Shivaji Nagar police station.

'Fabricated'
Purnima Prabhu, Rajiv's sister, said, "The police supervised the attack on our house. Yeole and Ghorpade were present when the goons hit my brother and robbed our house." Only a case of trespassing has been filed against the goons.

Purnima has levelled allegations of negligence against Singh too. "When I met Singh at his office regarding my brother's case with tears in my eyes, he said, 'don't try these stunts in front of me, go to court'," she said.

Singh did not reply to our SMSes regarding the allegation. But an angry Ghorpade said Purnima was a "liar". "We received a call at 11.35 am on December 28 that five or six people had entered the Prabhus' house. We reached the house at 11.39 am. The Prabhus took videos of the goons and us at the gate and fabricated a false case against us."

Last week, the police said it would take strong action against the two police officers who had not registered any complaint against the Mankars and instead filed a false complaint against the Prabhus. But the names of the two cops have not been revealed.