PSI sacked in MLA cash haul case

Mumbai: Two days after incarcerated member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ramesh Kadam visited a friend’s flat at Ghodbunder Road, instead of making his way back to prison from JJ Hospital in Byculla, a sub-inspector supervising his police escort was dismissed from service. Thane police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar, who signed an order in connection with the incident, also placing four constables under suspension.

On Friday, the escort team took Kadam for a medical check-up after which his route changed and he was taken to the flat in Thane.

The incident came to light after a team of Thane police raided the flat, following a tip-off, and also seized Rs 54 lakh cash.

The suspended officer was identified as Rohidas Pawar, who was found to have obliged Kadam by ordering the escort team to take the detour. The order signed by Mr Phansalkar stated that the probe uncovered how the matter unfolded.

“The investigation revealed that Pawar arranged for a private vehicle to take Kadam to his friend’s flat while the escort staff stayed put at a distance. The escort should have, however, proceeded from the hospital to Thane Central Prison. The police officers’ actions amounted to dereliction of duty,” said a Thane police officer.

Kadam, who is a member of Legislative Assembly from Mohol in Solapur, was in possession of the cash that allegedly was to be used in his constituency, from where he is fighting as an Independent. The income tax department is conducting an investigation to ascertain the ownership and trail of the seized money.

Kadam was arrested in August 2015 for alleged irregularities to the tune of `150 crore in the state-run Annabhau Sathe Development Corporation (ASDC) scam when he was its chairman.

While Pawar has been dismissed, the accused constables will face a departmental inquiry while being under suspension.