Sawant quietly visited Hingane Khurd flat, avoided speaking to neighbours

Sawant is accused of allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl and molesting three girls aged between 8-10 years. The Maharashtra government has suspended him from his post as Director-General of Maharashtra State Agricultural Education and Research (MCAER) after he was arrested by the police.

[related-post]

The residents said that they were “shocked and disgusted” to find that such a high ranking official could indulge in such a heinous act. They said they used to fear talking to him as they thought he was such a high ranking officer and would not like them approaching him. “Hence we never dared to speak to him,” said a resident. “But now we know how small a man he is. …”

Sawant owned a 1,200 sq ft flat on the first floor of an apartment building in Hingane Khurd which came up about two years ago at a place where once a chawl stood.

The road along which the building is situated — the alleged crime is said to have been committed in the basement — is lined with several grocery and stationery stores.

The residents and shop owners say that they were certainly aware of Sawant visiting the flat and leaving every few days, but did not have an inkling of what he was up to.

Kanhaiya Chaudhari, who runs a motor rewinding workshop, opposite the building, says he was not aware of who Sawant was, but he used to believe that he was a “top ka officer” from the red beacon vehicle he used.

“After the building came up about two years ago, he (Sawant) — as long as I remember — stayed here for some months with his family. Later, the family went to stay at his own bungalow somewhere near SB Road.

“He continued to come here every two three days. He used to spend his days inside the flat. The only reason I noticed him, was the car. I think it was a (Mahindra) Logan car donning a red beacon. Sometimes it remained parked in the basement for two-three days at a stretch. Sometimes the driver dropped him and went away. He had come to recognise me from my face. Since he is such a ‘bada afsar’ and I am only a mechanic there was no question of talking to him. Although, I talked to his driver who used to come and sit with us,” said Chaudhari.

Chaudhari says that when he got to know about the incident from newspapers and from policemen who have been visiting since Thursday evening, he was shocked. “I am now 68. I hear, he is 60. To commit such an act this age that to by a learned man is utterly shocking and disgusting too. I don’t know what to say,” said Chaudhari.

Another resident who only gave his first name, Sarjerao, and stays in a house next to the apartment building, said he never spotted or even guessed something fishy could have happened in the building.

“I read in the papers, that this has been happening for three years. But no one in the vicinity or even those in that building itself saw anything objectionable. And, if you ask me, there was nothing to suspect given his age and his rank. Now that this thing has come forward, some people say that they noticed some shady behaviour but personally although I stay so close, I never saw anything,” he said.

They said although Sawant mostly stayed alone whenever he visited, he never employed any house help or cook.

The residents say that the incident has shocked them and has certainly made them circumspect about where there children play and what places they visit.

“We are afraid for our kids. Anybody would be. Who would suspect that a person old enough to be a grandfather would do such a thing to little kids. Yesterday, I went to my daughter’s school and told them not to allow her to step out even during recess and keep an eye on her till the time she boards the school bus to return home,” said a housewife staying in the locality.

Meanwhile, the police sources said Sawant, who has been sent to 10-day police custody, was being interrogated. “We are taking the statements of people living in the area besides those who work with him,” said a police officer.