Plea filed in Bombay HC against Nehru Nagar Police

Mumbai: A habeas corpus petition has been filed in the Bombay high court against the Nehru Nagar police, which failed to trace a 17-year-old female resident of Thakkar Bappa colony, gone missing since eight months.

The petition has sought action against the police officers as well as the whereabouts of the missing girl. It is likely to be heard next week.

The petition was filed by Manjudevi Pancharam Rithadia, the widow of Pancharam Motiji Rithadia, through her lawyer, Nitin Satpute.

Manjudevi alleged that the Nehru Nagar police did not act on the complaint registered by her late husband regarding the couple’s 17-year-old daughter who was kidnapped on March 30, 2019 by the accused Bhagchand Bhiyaram Fulwaria, a resident of the same colony.

Manjudevi stated that Bhagchand was helped by Seema Kudia, Anwar Shaikh, Nenuram Fulwaria and Pappu Udaypur (Ghoneda) who held their daughter captive at an unknown place.

The mother further added that her husband had committed suicide, leaving behind a suicide note in which he blamed senior police inspector Vilas Shinde and other concerned police officers. Manjudevi claimed that the police was very much aware of the whereabouts of the accused and their daughter but did not want to arrest the accused.

Manjudevi stated that the family had been staying at Thakkar Bappa colony for the past 13 years and that their daughter Aarti used to call the accused and chat with him.

On March 30, when her husband had gone to his native place in Rajasthan, she called him and told him about Aarti having gone missing since the morning.

They searched everywhere but could not trace her. The couple’s other daughter, Pooja, brought to the notice of late Pancharam that Aarti had been in regular touch with the accused.

On April 2, the accused called Pancharam and told him that Aarti was safe. He told Pancharam not to pursue the matter.