March 6, 2009 2:58:29 am
The Bombay High Court on Thursday pulled up the police yet again in the Sion Hospital baby theft case. The court took exception to the fact that DCP Zone IV,who heads the special investigation team,has gone on leave.
A division bench of Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice A R Joshi ordered the government to call the DCP back and ask him to be present in court on Friday when the case will be heard next. It observed that the DCP had not even seen the report that was filed pursuant to earlier court orders.
Public Prosecutor Satish Borulkar told the court that serious efforts are being made to trace the baby and the police are examining those women who had delivery at the hospital recently. Borulkar also submitted that the police are probing if any gang is involved in the incident.
The court said it was not satisfied with the report but was not doubting the competency of the city police. It cautioned that the DCP will have to bear the consequences of not doing anything.
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As for the compensation to be paid by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to the parents,the civic body stated it has not paid more than Rs 5 lakh in any case. It cited the Rs 5-lakh compensation given to the family of a doctor who died in Bihar.
The court asked the BMC to state on Friday how much it was willing to pay voluntarily as an interim arrangement.
The BMC had stated that the two security officials who were found to be at fault can be suspended pending inquiry. It also suggested a judicial inquiry,which was shot down by the court. The court had yesterday asked the BMC to pay the parents not less than Rs 10 lakh.
The babys parents had filed a habeas corpus petition after all attempts to trace the baby failed.
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