The Maharashtra Government on Wednesday decided to file an affidavit before the Bombay High Court stating it would have no objection if the court decided to transfer the 1993 Hari Masjid police firing case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The decision was taken at a meeting held by Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil with senior Home Department and police officials.“A decision has been taken to file an affidavit in Farooq Mapkar petition being heard by the High Court. The Government will not have any objection if the court decides to transfer the Hari Masjid case to the CBI,” Director General of Police Dr P S Pasricha told The Indian Express. In two earlier affidavits submitted before the High Court, the state Government gave a clean chit to Assistant Police Inspector Nikhil Kapse in connection with the firing at Hari Masjid on January 10, 1993, that claimed six lives. The Srikrishna Commission report on the 1992-93 riots had held Kapse “guilty of unjustified firing” and “inhuman and brutal behaviour”. Meanwhile, Patil said that the state Government is ready for any inquiry into the firing case. Speaking to reporters, he said the Government’s stand on the issue would be presented in an affidavit to the High Court on September 27. Earlier in the day, human rights activist Teesta Setalvad led a delegation to meet Patil to lodge a protest on the issue. The delegation had also protested against the new chargesheet filed by the police last Friday against Mapkar, one of those injured in the firing, charging him with rioting and murder. “On one hand, the state Government has assured us that it will seriously implement the report, but on the other hand, case by case, it seems that the mindset of the establishment has not changed,” said Setalvad. Last year, a trial court had acquitted 49 others accused in the case for want of evidence, but had separated Mapkar’s case. The Srikrishna Commission report had described the case as “wholly unbelievable” and “fabricated”.
