Jaipur-Mumbai Train Killing: RPF constable sacked, faced probe in another ‘hate case’ 6 years ago

The Indian Express has learnt that Chaudhary — he is in judicial custody following his arrest after he allegedly shot dead RPF ASI Tikaram Meena and passengers Abdul Kadar Mohamed Hussain Bhanpurawala, Syed Saifuddin and Asgar Abbas Sheikh — has a past service record of involvement in at least three incidents, including a “hate case” involving the alleged harassment of a Muslim man at a RPF post.

Sources said he faced departmental action following inquiries in all three incidents.

Chetan Singh was arrested for shooting four men dead inside a train on July 31

Asked about these, P C Sinha, Inspector General-cum-Principal Chief Security Commissioner, Western Railway, declined comment, citing the inquiry underway.

A source familiar with the investigation said Chaudhary was the subject of an inquiry when he was posted with the RPF dog squad in Ujjain in 2017.

“On February 18, 2017, when he was off-duty and dressed in civilian clothes, he brought a man named Wahid Khan to the post and allegedly manhandled and harassed him for no reason. When his superiors learnt about it, they ordered an inquiry and he was later punished for this act,” the source said.

In another incident dating back to 2011, an inquiry, the source said, was initiated after Chaudhary allegedly withdrew Rs 25,000 using a colleague’s ATM card when he was posted in Jagadhri in Haryana.

In the third incident, he allegedly assaulted a colleague during his posting in Bhavnagar in Gujarat, the source said, adding that Chaudhary was transferred to another unit following a departmental probe.

The RPF inquiry team into the July 31 incident has already recorded the statements of Chaudhary’s colleagues and seniors, both current and former, to analyse his behaviour and conduct during service.

On Wednesday, The Indian Express reported that investigators probing the train killings have been told that Chaudhary allegedly threatened a burqa-clad woman passenger and forced her to say ‘Jai Mata Di’ at gunpoint.

Police sources said the Government Railway Police (GRP), Borivali, which is investigating the case, identified the woman and recorded her statement. She has been made a key witness. The entire episode, sources said, was also captured by CCTV cameras in the train.