Police accuses Police of helping land mafia

An inspector accuses sub-inspector and a landowner with political connections of threatening him inside the police station

Police accuses Police of helping land mafia

An inspector accuses sub-inspector and a landowner with political connections of threatening him inside the police station

On Tuesday, inspector Balraj Lanjile of the Lonavla police station lodged a complaint to his superiors, accusing his subordinate Sub-inspector D T Karche of being a member of the land mafia in Lonavla. Kharche had allegedly accompanied powerful local landowner Nitin Sabale to the Lonavla police station on June 28 when he threatened Lanjile.

NGO used RTI
On Monday, Bhrashtachaar Nirmoolan Samitee, an NGO secured a copy of the complaint made by Lanjile under the Right to Information Act 2005. Lanjile confirmed to MiD DAY that he had filed the complaint.

"Yes, it is true. I have filed a complaint against Kharche with my seniors," Lanjile said.u00a0

Investigations on
Sub-inspector P A Patil, at the Lonavla Police station, the investigating officer in the case confirmed the receipt of the complaint. "The investigations are on," Patil said.

The complaint by Lanjile to commissioner of rural police, Pune, states that Nitin Sabale, against whom a land-related 420 case (160/08) has been lodged, has been operating with the support of Karche.

Sabale, who allegedly sold a piece of land using false affidavits in June, denies all charges.u00a0

All lies?
"I am being framed. I am a businessman, farmer and a philanthropist. I am also the deputy chairman of the Pune district education society. Despite the fact that there is a civil case pending in the court in the land sale case, the Lonavla police has filed a criminal complaint against me," said Sabale, who said PSI Karche was merely a friend.

Karche admits that he had indeed accompanied Sabale to Lonavla the police station, but denies that he threatened Inspector Balraj Lanjile.

Karche's mobile phone was switched off when MiD DAY tried to call him yesterday.