HC seeks probe report on TISS prof attack case

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday asked the Mumbai Police Crime Branch to submit a report giving details of the action taken to probe the case involving the attack on Shamim Modi,a professor with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday asked the Mumbai Police Crime Branch to submit a report giving details of the action taken to probe the case involving the attack on Shamim Modi,a professor with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

The court,however,expressed its satisfaction that full efforts are being made by the agency in the probe and asked the police to consider giving her protection and decide the same within four weeks.

Modi was attacked by the watchman of her building and got nearly 200 stitches and suffered multiple fractures.

The incident took place in July 2009. Before working as a professor,she had been a social and political activist in Madhya Pradesh,and had filed numerous public interest litigations pertaining to illegal mining. She claims that a former political opponent and former MP revenue minister could be behind the attack.

During the hearing,Modis lawyer Mihir Desai questioned why the accused in the case were not being charged under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (attempt to murder).

Meanwhile,additional public prosecutor Ajay Gadkari told the court that as per information received by the investigating agency,the main accused in the case is likely to be in Kathmandu and efforts are on to trace him. He said that the agency is in touch with the Nepal embassy on the issue.

Hearing the case,the court had previously directed the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy to remain present in court to explain the agency stand on the case.

The matter has been adjourned till June 18.

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