Bombay HC dismisses plea of woman whose spouse was murdered

Mumbai: Satisfied with the steps taken by the state to improve infrastructure and provide better equipment among other facilities to the police department, Bombay high court on Thursday disposed of a PIL filed by Pune-based Ashwini Rane, who had approached the HC  after police failed to make any headway in her husband’s murder case.

A division bench of justice R.M. Savant and justice S.S. Jadhav disposed of the PIL after considerating two affidavits filed by the deputy secretary of home department in December 2015 and another one earlier this year giving details about steps taken to equip the police department with modern investigation techniques.

The court recorded that the affidavit dealt with the finger print bureau and biometric identification system. The bench also noted the endeavours for better infrastructure and career progress for policemen. It was further noted by the court that the amendment was made in two sections of the Maharashtra Police Act. By way of this amendment, the law and order department and investigation branch had been separated. Apart from that, the state police complaint authority was formed and it was functional.

After recording all these facts mentioned in the affidavits, the bench disposed of the petition. The bench noted that the petition was filed by Rane seeking to transfer her husband’s murder case to CBI, which was done and the CBI had also filed an “A” summary report, which was pending before the concerned court for final consideration.

However, during the hearing, problems faced by the police were raised and the HC converted this petition into PIL and as almost all issues had been dealt with, the court disposed of the petition.