Cops pick holes in complainant’s version, say attack could be staged

The complainant, David Parish (51), on Tuesday filed a complaint with the police, claiming that he was accosted by three unidentified motorbike-borne men, who tried to rob him and then assaulted him with a sharp instrument when he fought back, the police said.

A complaint of assault and attempt to robbery was registered against the unidentified people, following which history-sheeters were being arrested by the police.

However, as investigations progressed, the police discovered that evidence, including closed circuit television camera (CCTV) footage and statements of people concerned, told a completely different story.

“The CCTV footage at the Ramada Hotel, where Parish was staying, show that he exited the hotel at only at 8 am, whereas the attack was supposed to have occurred at 6 am. We have also discovered that Parish had taken a knife from the kitchen of the hotel, as well as some iodine, earlier on Tuesday morning. The injuries, which are little more than abrasions, are such that they could have been self inflicted,” said an officer with the Powai police.

However, before the police could quiz Parish about the discrepancies, he took a flight for Texas on Tuesday night. The police are now deciding on how to proceed in the case.

Sources added that there was a possibility that Parish had staged the incident in order to be able to return to his country quickly, as L&T Infotech was at present hosting a week-long Global Business Meet, attendance for which is mandatory.
Vishwas Nangre Patil, Additional Commissioner of Police (western region), said, “There are some facts in the case that need to be verified. We will soon reach a conclusion.”

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com