Rohini Salian ready to be SPP

Mumbai: Advocate Rohini Salian is ready to become a special public prosecutor (SPP) in the case of the murder of Pune techie Mohsin Shaikh, who was allegedly killed by Hindu Rashtra Sena (HRS) members in 2014. Ujjwal Nikam, who was the SPP, withdrew last month from the case without giving any reason.

“Yes, I was contacted by the Shaikh family, and they asked me for my consent, and I have consented to become the public prosecutor for this case, but it would be subject to the notification by the government,” said Ms Salian while speaking to The Asian Age.

Advocate Hafiz Qazi, standing counsel for the family in the case, also confirmed that the Moshin’s family had approached Ms Salian.

He said, “The family had contacted Rohini Salian as they want her to become the special public prosecutor in this case after advocate Ujjwal Nikam withdrew from the case.”

He added, “She has given her oral consent on the phone, but she could act
as the special public prosecutor only if the government appoints her officially.”

“After receiving Salian’s consent, Mohsin’s father Mohammed Sadique wrote a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on June 16, requesting him to appoint Salian as SPP in this case but so far the family has not received any reply on the same,” said advocate Mr Qazi.

“I request your honour to appoint advocate Rohini Salian in place of advocate Ujjwal Nikam as special public prosecutor,” read Mr Sadique’s application. In the letter, he also had requested CM Fadnavis to decide on the application before the next date of hearing on the case which, at that time, June 19. However, the family is yet to receive a reply from CM’s office.

Objectionable pictures of Shivaji Maharaj and Bal Thackeray were uploaded on social media websites in 2014, triggering clashes in various parts of Maharashtra.

On June 2, 2014, at around 9.15pm, Moshin was returning home after offering Namaz in Hadapsar area of Pune when a group of men allegedly linked to the Hindu Rashtra Sena (HRS) attacked Mohsin and killed him.

The police has chargesheeted HRS chief Dhananjay Desai for criminal conspiracy and promoting enmity between two groups.

Ms Salian had grabbed the headlines after she openly made allegations that an NIA officer asked her to go soft on Hindu extremists accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts
case.