MH-COUPLE-POLICEMEN

A married couple, both former JNU

scholars now doing research work in Nagpur, Monday alleged

policemen broke into their rented flat in their absence and

stole documents and valuables worth Rs 76 lakh.

The alleged incident took place last year after which

an FIR was filed and a probe ordered and its report is

awaited, said a police officer.

Addressing a press meet, the couple, Dr Shivshankar

Das and his wife Dr Shipra Ukre, alleged three personnel from

the Bajajnagar police station entered their flat in Laxminagar

in connivance with their landlord when they were out.

The policemen stole documents and valuables, including

passports, academic certificates, degrees, marksheets, foreign

currency, laptop, cash, jewellery and research data, the

couple alleged.

Das and Ukre had completed PhD from the Jawaharlal

Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, and were doing research

work in Nagpur from the last four years.

The duo alleged the incident took place on September

9, 2018 when the policemen entered their flat while acting on

a false complaint filed against them by their landlord Tushar

Lamge.

The cops cut and broke the lock of the rented flat

without their knowledge or any inquiry, said Das and Ukre, who

obtained the names of the accused policemen through RTI query.

The couple alleged that after breaking the lock, they

stole research data, manuscripts and valuables collectively

worth Rs 76 lakh from the flat.

The rest of the household items were thrown all over

the apartment, stairs and terrace, Das said.

"The police did not do any panchnama (a record of

witness testimony). When we came back home from Delhi and

noticed the devastation, we called the police on 100 and later

approached Bajajnagar police station to register an offence.

"The senior police inspector there said it was a

Sunday and the staff was not available to prepare an FIR," he

claimed.

"We approached Joint Commissioner of Police Ravindra

Kadam and after his intervention our complaint was registered

under IPC sections 448, 341 and 34 (related to house-trespass,

wrongful restraint and a criminal act is done by several

persons)," Das said.

When contacted, DCP (Zone-1) Vivek Masal told PTI that

landlord Lamge and the couple were locked in a dispute.

Lamge wanted the couple to vacate the flat and had

given an application to the police in this regard, he said.

After the incident, an FIR was registered on the basis

of a complaint filed by the tenants, Masal said.

The ACP Crime Branch had conducted an inquiry into the

complaint, he said.

The inquiry has been completed and its report is

awaited after which action will be taken against the policemen

if they are found guilty, Masal said.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)