Special Correspondent
Pune: A PSI from Kalewadi police station has been suspended for omitting the name of a notorious criminal, Prashant Dighe, from an attempted murder case. However, despite the gravity of the situation, no action has been taken against the senior inspector and inspector who were responsible for the operations at the police station.
The incident occurred on December 22 in Kalewadi when Dighe, a criminal with a long history of offenses, attacked an individual with intent to kill. It is believed that a prominent political leader pressured the police to exclude Dighe’s name from the FIR, leading to a controversy that has raised questions about the involvement of higher officials.
Prashant Dighe, a known offender in Pimpri-Chinchwad with 19 serious criminal cases to his name, including murder, attempt to murder, illegal arms possession, and robbery, was involved in the attack during a brawl between two groups. Despite his criminal background, PSI Sachin Chavan deliberately left Dighe’s name out of the case.
The omission of the name has prompted questions about how a PSI-level officer could make such a decision without the knowledge of senior officers. After the matter was escalated to the commissionerate, the higher authorities ordered Dighe’s arrest and suspended PSI Chavan for yielding to political pressure.
Interestingly, while Chavan faced suspension, no action has been taken against Senior Inspector Rajendra Bahirat and Inspector Vikram Bansode, who were overseeing the operations at the station. An inquiry by the assistant commissioner of police found no wrongdoing on the part of the senior officials, which has raised suspicions of political interference.
This lack of accountability has reportedly demoralized junior officers and staff in the police department, as it appears that justice is being enforced unevenly. Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishal Gaikwad stated, “The assistant commissioner of police conducted an inquiry, which found no wrongdoing on the part of senior officials.”
The case continues to unfold, and the demand for accountability within the police department remains high.
