Taking serious note of a case where a cop facing corruption charges allegedly got the prime witness kidnapped and threatened,the Bombay High Court on Monday asked the state to take serious action,if the allegations prove to be true. Petitioner Firoze Tinwala has moved the court seeking police protection and investigation against suspended police inspector Sahibrao Surwade. According to him,under Surwades instance a group of men had kidnapped him and threatened with dire consequences if he deposed against the cop in the graft case. The petition was filed after the police had allegedly refused to register Tinwalas complaint. His lawyer Milan Desai on Monday informed the court that Dongri police had registered the case only last night. Desai told the court that Surwade was an accused in a corruption case in which Tinwala is the complainant. He said the trial was on and it was Tinwalas turn to depose in the case. But the cop allegedly sent men to threaten Tinwala on February 5,Desai said. On courts query as to how Tinwala was released by the men,Desai said out of fear Tinwala agreed not to depose against the cop and was subsequently released. If this is how witnesses are threatened,you should take serious action, Justice Desai said. The judges also cautioned the Dongri police not to take the case lightly and asked them to protect the cop since he was one among them. If you play any fraud,we will locate it. Dont protect people like this, the court said. The court also said the police should have taken action earlier. Why did you wait for so long? justice Desai said. The court has also directed the state to process a letter written by Tinwala to the police commissioner seeking protection. The court has directed Dongri police to investigate in a week whether the allegations are true. Police would not be swayed by the fact that Surwade is also a police officer, the court observed.
