JANUARY 12: A post-mortem report has given the lie to the Turbhe police's claim that an alleged robber committed suicide in their custody nearly a year ago. On Friday the state crime branch, which is investigating into the case has referred the report to Dr R G Bhusale, professor and head of forensic department, J J Hospital for expert opinion.Sanjay Seetaram Manjrekar (24) was arrested in connection with charges of robbery and put in the lock-up. He was found hanging from the toilet ceiling on April 4, 1998 and the police claimed that he had committed suicide in the early hours. However, the post-mortem report revealed some startling findings about the prisoner pointing towards the possibility that he was tortured by the police. The autopsy surgeons found contusions on the back, nape of the neck, shoulders, forehead, soles, buttocks and even thescrotum. In a report that clearly indicts the police, the surgeons have even opined that these injuries were caused to the prisoner about 24-48 hours before hisdeath. And the autopsy surgeons at VSG Hospital, Thane have further said that such injuries can be caused by a hard and blunt blows, sources said.The doctors had also confirmed presence of alcohol in Manjrekar's body, leading to questions about how the accused managed to obtain liquour despite police guard round the clock. They also said the prisoner went into a state of shock and did not rule out the possibility that he could have been hung by others, sources said.The case is being investigated by inspector KB Dawkhar of the state crime branch, and action is likely to be taken against the erring policemen based on the report by the forensic expert.
