TITWALA police in Thane, finally registered a FIR against Ulhasnagar based Land Mafia after National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) called Thane Rural Police officer in Delhi and lambasted him. Not only this, NCST also ordered that the FIR that was previously closed and C-summarised by Titwala police against these accused in another tribal matter be Re-registered.
On 26th May 2018, Titwala police registered FIR (No-198/2018) under sections 143, 342, 447, 120 (B), 465, 468, 471, 504, 506 of IPC along with 3 (f), (g), (p), (q), (r),(z) of SC/ST Act 2015 against Shantilal Mulji Poriya, Vishal Budhrani, Nisha Budhrani, Prakash Budhrani, Girish Budhrani and Ashwin Shah.
According to the FIR (copy available with ABI), Suresh Soma Hindole is a resident of Vaghera Pada, Kamba-Varap, Taluka – Kalyan, District Thane. Budhrani Gang had encroached on 3 acres of land at survey No- 47/1, Vaghera Pada, Varap in Kalyan by forging the documents and ownership records. On 27th August 2014, Budhrani gang appeared on the said land and threatened and pushed Hindole away from the land, claiming that the Budhranis are the owners of the land.
Hindole (46) is a tribal person. He is illiterate. He approached a NGO Vishwa Manav Kalyan Parishad and met their national secratary Ramji Maheshwari and vice president J P Shoke. Maheshwari and Shoke complained on behalf of Hindole against the Budhrani gang for encroaching on Hindole’s land. The complaint was made to Titwala Police, Collector, Prant Adhikari, Tehsildar and several top authorities. But to their shock, all of them blindly favoured Budhrani gang. It was very clear that since Prakash Budhrani belonged to a Sindhi community and hence he cannot purchase agricultural land in the State of Maharashtra. However all the authorities refused and tried to avoid understanding this basic fact. Budhrani even produced farmer’s certificate from Rajasthan, which was also subsequently proved to be bogus and fake.
‘Prant Adhikari Prasad Ukirde pata nahi kyon Budhrani ko open support karta hai. Ukirde officer kam, Budhrani ke Peon jaisi harkat karta hai,’ said Vishal Gupta.
‘Very intelligent’ then senior inspector Vyankat Andhale of Titwala police station refused to act on application saying matter was civil in nature.
Hindole, Maheshwari, Shoke and Vishal Gupta also met Superintendent of Police (SP) Mahesh Patil and Additional Superintendent of Police Prashant Kadam. Both the officers did nothing. On the contrary Prashant Kadam insulted and threatened the representatives of complainant, especially Vishal Gupta by saying that as a police officer he knew the law and that he will personally take care of Vishal Gupta. The whole tone of conversation was insulting, threatening and frightening.
Based on Hindole’s complaint, NCST summoned SP Mahesh Patil and Thane Collector Mahendra Kalyankar, asking them to appear before the commission in Delhi, on 23rd May 2018. On behalf of Mahesh Patil and Mahendra Kalyankar, DySP Rajendra More and Prant Adhikari Prasad Ukirde appeared before the commission. Vishal Gupta, Ramji Maheshwari and JP Shoke appeared from Hindole’s side. Rajendra More and Prasad Ukirde tried to dodge and avoid the queries of the commission intentionally by acting silly and innocent. However, five members of NCST Commission, including the President Maya Ivnate lambasted them.
“Jab maine kaha ki Rajendra More aur Prasad Ukirde par FIR lo to dono adhikari gidgidane lage aur Budhrani gang par FIR karne ka promise kiya,” said Shoke.
When the commission threatened to register a FIR against Rajendra More and Prasad Ukirde, both the officials got nervous and promised to register FIR against Budhrani and land mafia. After reaching Thane, More registered FIR against Budhrani gang. However no progress is being made and no interest was shown to arrest any member of the gang.
“FIR registered karne ke baad police phir bhool gayi ki unhe arrest karna hai. Police unhe anticipatory bail lene ka khoob mauka de rahi hai,” said Maheshwari.
Re-register the closed FIR
In 2013, Titwala police had registered FIR against Budhrani gang on complaint of other tribal Mahadu Nago Sid. The Budhrani gang had grabbed his 13-acre agriculture land after forging documents. But then DySP B R Bhor filed c-summary report into the matter, instead of taking action on accused. Now NCST commission has ordered to set up an inquiry and re-register the said FIR. The FIR was registered after long six years of battle.