ULHASNAGAR: Bombay HC has pulled up Thane police for failing to find the source of a revolver allegedly planted in the shop of businessman and RTI activist Moti Duseja more than two years ago. “The investigating agency is only playing ducks and drakes while conducting the [probe],” it said.
It directed the Thane police commissioner to file a detailed affidavit by Aug 2 explaining the reasons for the delay.
Five persons, including a developer, were arrested last Sept in Ulhasnagar for allegedly planting the gun.
Duseja had exposed illegal acquisition of govt plots in Ulhasnagar allegedly with the help of revenue officials. His revelation led to an FIR in 2017.
Duseja received threats over the expose and wrote to police, expressing concerns that the land mafia could fabricate false charges against him. On Jan 29, 2022, he was arrested outside his plywood shop for illegal possession of a country-made pistol and two live cartridges in his pocket. He was granted bail three days later. Upon his release, he filed a petition through advocate Viresh Purvant in HC, claiming that he had been framed. After HC’s intervention, five persons, including a builder who had been hit by Duseja’s expose, Ajit Bhatia, were arrested on Sept 1, 2023.
During a hearing this month, HC asked where the firearm was obtained from, but the investigator didn’t have an answer.
