Tulinj police filed an FIR against head constable Mangesh Chavan (52) and police naik Manoj Sakpal (44).
Victim Jogendra Rana alias Govind’s brother Surendra had moved court in October 2018 alleging that the 2018 killing was a fake encounter. Police, on their part, had filed an attempt-to-murder case against the deceased for “assaulting” Sakpal in the abdomen with a knife. Chavan had fired two rounds with his service revolver at Jogendra (42).
Chavan and Sakpal were then attached to Palghar crime branch. Chavan is currently with Nalasopara police and Sakpal is in the crime unit. The case will be investigated by a DCP, Thane.
Police had registered an accidental death case on July 24, 2018. Police said on July 23, when Chavan and Sakpal were on a bike, they saw “history sheeter” Jogendra at Radhanagari in Nalasopara (East). The cops claimed to have chased Jogendra who tried to attack them with a knife. They said bullets were fired in self-defence.
In his July 2018 complaints to the police, based on which the FIR has been registered, Surendra said Chavan and Sakpal approached Jogendra who along with a friend identified as Sachin were having vada pav at a snack centre. The cops then allegedly demanded money from Jogendra. When he refused to pay and began to run, the two cops chased him.
Surendra said Sachin too ran behind the police, requesting them to let go of Jogendra.
Surendra said Chavan first fired at Jogendra’s left leg and then at the chest. Meanwhile, he said some bystanders took photographs and shot videos of the incident which were uploaded on social media; these were submitted in court.
Surendra said Jogendra, who lived in Nagindas Pada, Nalasopara (East), with his wife was a driver with a tourist company and did not have any police case. He said a video showed Sakpal with a kitchen knife which he threw near a tree to show Jogendra was carrying it. No bloodstains were found on it. The videos did not show Jogendra holding it.
Surendra alleged the CCTV footage of the crime spot was tampered with by police.
