Excerpts from the closure report of CBI in Satish Shetty murder

The closure report filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Satish Shetty murder case has received much media attention and re-investigation has been demanded in the case. Excerpts from the closure report are being reproduced below which point to the manner in which the business is being conducted in the country.

“Investigation by CBI revealed that the deceased Satish Bhoja Shetty was a Social Worker and RTI activist and he had filed a complaint against many persons, including Adv Vijay Dabhade of Talegaon, regarding encroachment on Government land and many other illegal activities which came to his notice.”

“Investigations by CBI revealed that the deceased had filed a number of complaints against Smt Ashiwini Kshirsagar, the then Sub-Registrar at Lonavala, for illegally registering Government land on the basis of false documents. The deceased had filed acomplaint on 16 September 2009 with the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Pune Rural, against Smt Kshirsagar and others, for registering Government land on the basis of bogus documents. Therefore, on 15 October 2009, on the fresh complaint of the deceased CR no152/2009 a case u/s420, 467, 468, 469, 471 and 34 of IPC was registered at Lonavala City Police Station against Virendra Mhaiskar, director of Aryan Infrastructure Investment Pvt Ltd and 12 others regarding illegal purchase of Government land in Pimpaloli village and Ozarde village, Maval taluka, Dist. Pune on the basis of fake and forged documents in connivance with Ashwini Kshirsagar, the then sub-registrar, Lonavala, who was also cited as an accused in the said FIR.”

“After registration of the said case, the deceased, Satish Shetty was offered a bribe of Rs 2 crore to stop pursuing the matter, by Jayant Dangre, Liason Manager of IRB Group and on Shetty's refusal, he was threatened by Jayant Dangre to break his hands and legs by his men.”

“Thereafter, vide letters dated 23 November 2009 and 24 November 2009, the deceased Satish Shetty had requested Superintendent of Police, Pune Rural for providing police protection to him and his family but he did not get police protection despite recommendation dated 8 January 2010 from Dilip Shinde, SDPO of Lonavala who had recorded statement of Satish Shetty in this regard on 25 December 2009. The deceased Shetty was murdered on 13 January 2010 with sharp edged weapon...”

“On the basis of the evidence collected during investigation, the following persons were also arraigned as accused in this case their role was investigated by the CBI:

1. Jayant Dattatreya Dange, Liason Manager, Modern Roadmakers Pvt Ltd (subsidiary of M/S IRB Infrastructure Developers), Chandivili Farm, Chandivili Village, Andheri East, Mumbai.

2. Adv Ajit Balat Kulkarni, 28-B, Gharkul, Ganeshkrupa Society, Paud Road, Kothrud, Pune

3. Bhausaheb Raosaheb Andhalkar, the then police inspector, Local Crime Branch, Pune

4. Namdev Sukhdeo Kauthale, the then police sub inspector, Local Crime Branch

5. Virendra Dattatray Mhaiskar, Managing Director, of IRB Infrastructure Developers

Ltd and Director of Aryan Infrastructure Investments Pvt Ltd, Chandivili Farm, Chandivili Village, Andheri East, Mumbai

6. Dilip Arjunrao Shinde, the then deputy superintendent of police and SDPO, Lonavala, Dist Pune”

Demand for Police protection:

The CBI closure report states: “…on account (of his complaints) the accused persons have come under difficulty and the IRB company, which had spent crores of rupees to purchase the said lands is facing problem in getting the said land transferred in their name. Therefore, the Director of IRB, the concerned agents and many farmers had become angry with him. Therefore they are trying to allure him and also pressurising and intimidating him……due to the fact that he was providing evidence in respect of the illegal acts and due to the financial and social loss to the said persons, the said persons either themselves or through their men are likely to cause danger to his life and the life of his family members and they want to give a message that anybody who will do such social work will face consequences like him. In view of the said facts, he had requested adequate police protection to him, free of cost, as he is unable to bear the cost of police protection…”

“Investigations revealed vide letter no.349/2010 dated 12 January 2010 addressed to SP, Pune Rural, Sunil Tonpe had forwarded his recommendation that he may be provided police protection.”

Revelations during the CBI investigation:
“During investigations by CBI, Dinesh Sadanand Shetty, the cousin of the deceased was examined .…He stated that he came in contact with Jayant Dangre through his friend Pramod Tigle, when the work of NH4 Expressway was in progress. He stated that the deceased Satish Shetty had exposed land dealings of the IRB group as they were purchasing land on bogus documents. Thereafter, Jayant Dangre had met him and told him…if all the matters pertain to IRB are settled, then they would give Rs2 to 2.5 crore.

The next day he told Satish Shetty to meet Jayant Dangre. But, the meeting did not happen. Thereafter, Jayant Dangre had telephonically told him that Ganesh Khandge was going to hold a meeting with Satish Shetty to settle the matter and he had told this to Satish Shetty, upon which Satish Shetty became angry and did not meet Ganesh Khandge…”

“He stated the land, which IRB had purchased in the name of Virendra Mhaiskar through Adv Kulkarni were done on bogus documents and when Mhaiskar's name was exposed, Jayant Dangre had telephonically told him to tell Satish Shetty not to proceed further else he would not spare him…Jayant Dangre had also asked him on telephone, why Satish Shetty was behind Mhaiskar?  He advised him to lay off for the sake of his boys and if his hands and legs were broken what would he do?”

Sanjeev Sharma