Special team will probe local police's inaction in 2020 complaint, says Fadnavis

A special team will probe why the Maharashtra Police did not act on a complaint filed by Shraddha Walkar against Aftab Poonawala in November 2020 the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the Assembly on Tuesday reported the PTIWalkar was allegedly killed by her livein partner Poonawala in May this year in their rented Delhi flat He allegedly chopped her body into multiple pieces and disposed them over several weeks before he was arrested by the Delhi Police last monthFadnavis who handles the state Home Ministry said so far it has not occurred in any investigation if there was any political or any other pressure on the police behind Walkar withdrawing the complaint the PTI reportedWalkar who had resided in the Vasai region with Poonawala before moving to Delhi had lodged a complaint with Vasai police on November 23 2020 stating Poonawala had been physically abusing her for over six months and threatened to kill her and chop her into piecesPolice had repertedly said that no action was taken as when they went to follow up with Walkar she said Poonawalas parents had come and talked to him and she had no more complaints The complaint was withdrawn on December 19 2020Meanwhile against the backdrop of the Maharashtra governments decision to set up a committee to gather information on interfaith marriage couples Fadnavis said the state government is not against such marriages But it has been realised over time that there is a design as part of a conspiracy In some districts such marriages are taking place in big numbers he saidFadnavis also said that the interfaith committee has been formed for the same purpose The panel headed by a minister will track and maintain records of interfaith marriages married couples and also their familiesThis panel is for the same purpose When Shraddha Walkars father said we didnt understand where to go and we could have saved her had someone facilitated a conversation with her People do not know where to go in such a situation and the panel is for facilitation Fadnavis said according to the PTIAlso Read Maharashtra Opposition accuses govt of corruption seeks resignation of CMThe Bharatiya Janta Party BJP had sought to target the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi government over the Walkar caseRaising the alleged inaction of police on Walkars initial complaint in the Legislative Assembly BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar said when Walkar was residing in Vasai she had lodged a complaint with the Tulinj police and then took it backHer father has said publicly that there was pressure on the police Aaftabs parents also pressured her which is why she took back the complaintWas there political pressure on the police not to act when they received the complaint When this happened during that time Amravati pharmacist Umesh Kolhe was killed and the Tablighi Jamaats name cropped up in the charge sheet today Bhatkhalkar saidAnother BJP MLA Ashish Shelar also raised the same issueFadnavis said there was a months gap between lodging the complaint by Walkar and taking it back She lodged the complaint on November 23 2020 but withdrew it on December 19Responding to Shelars question on whether a probe will be conducted to understand what police did during the period after Walkar lodged the complaint and withdrew it Fadnavis said a special team will be formedI have accepted that there is a time gap As demanded by Ashish Shelar a special team will probe why Walkar was assaulted why was the complaint taken back and why no action was taken in the intervening time Fadnavis saidHe said if cognisance was taken of Walkars complaint the further episode could have been avertedPolice have been instructed through the Director General that when a case of violence comes up especially in interfaith marriages they should act immediately or at least hear the woman out he addedwith PTI inputs