Sixth cop under scanner for party by Rajan aide

According to sources,when the Mumbai Police learnt of the party,they immediately questioned the professional photographer who had been hired by the host. The police said they have got hold of 355 incriminating photographs including the ones showing the said policemen in attendance.

The party was held on December 25 at the Chembur Gymkhana and was said to have been hosted by a ‘very close’ aide of Rajan,who originally worked as a chauffer in his gang. Among the guests were Rajan aides D K Rao,Farid Tanasha and Sunil Poddar,who have either completed their prison terms or are out on bail.

“The photographs show that the party was attended by Rajan’s wife Sujata Nikhalje. The party went on till 5 am the following day,which is a blatant violation of the 1:30 am deadline. There was loud music and liquor flowed,” said the officer.

Five policemen,DCP (Special Branch 1) V N Salve,Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Prakash Wani,Senior Police Inspector (Chembur) Ramesh Khakale,Assistant Police Inspector (Anti-Extortion Cell) N. Kolhatkar and constable Rajendra Ghorpade have already been suspended for attending the party.

Sources said Wani attended the party with his daughter and son-in-law. Sources added that he had been warned by his seniors in the past for unrelated lapses in conduct and had been given a “thorough dressing down” by top officials a few months ago.

According to sources,Wani has been posted in the eastern region of the city for a long time and the departmental probe initiated in the matter will look closely at his possible nexus with the cable mafia monopolized by the Rajan gang in the region.