UPDATE:
Dhananjay Desai, chief of the Hindu Rashtra Sena (HRS) filed an application for bail as also an application for discharge as accused in the murder of Mohsin Shaikh. The pleas were opposed by special public prosecutor, Ujwal Nikam. The matter will now be heard on June 14.
Two years and six days after Mohsin was brutally attacked and dies, a special sessions court will hear this bail plea of Hindu Rashtra Sena (HRS) chief, Dhananjay Desai, in Pune even as the family has received no reparation despite government promises and no job in government for brother, Mubeen, either
Two years and six days ago, in the first case of mob attack, soon after the Modi government came to power; a mob had beaten to death, 24 year old Mohsin Shaikh from Sholapur district who worked as a manager in an IT firm in Pune. Two years down, and a change of government from the Prithviraj Chauhan led Congress-NCP government to the BJP-dominated Devendra Phadnavis government, and neither has the case progressed, not has the compensation amount been paid to Sadiq Shaikh, Mohsin’s father. Soon after the public lynching, Rs 3 lakhs was announced but repeated communications between the family and government have been unsuccessful. Promises of a government job in reparation for Mubeen sheikh, brother of Mohsin are also unrealised. Two years down the line, lawyers assisting the Mohsin Shaikh family have complained of tardiness on the part of the prosecution in pursuing the case.
- Correspondence with State Government from August 2014 regarding a state government job for brother Mubeen
- MLA, Sholapur, Priniti Shinde’s letter recommending that Rs 10 lakhs be paid in reparation
- Correspondence on reparation amount not being paid (Rs 3 lakhs was assured)
- Letter for Employment
- Note on Issues Related to trial, proper witness protection, prosecution not thorough
Speaking to Sabrangindia.in, Sadiq Shaikh, father of Mohsin expressed concern about the delay in both the criminal case as also in matters related to reparation. “We are very worried that justice may not be done because of the inexplicable delays. Our well wishers in Pune, are assisting the prosecution and there has been such delay. Now with Ujwal Nikam as special public prosecutor, we are hoping against hope.” Special PP Ujwal Nikam brushed away these concerns saying that the matter was going as per plan and draft charges have been proffered to the special court and will soon be framed.
Hindu Rashtra Sena Chief Dhananjay Desai has made a plea to get bail in this case. He was arrested first in connection with distributing inflammatory pamphlets and thereafter also arraigned in this case. Today, June 8, a special court will hear the bail plea.
After three rejections in the Pune trial Court, last month, the Bombay High Court had granted bail to three accused, while imposing severe conditions on the accused who were granted bail.
Lawyer for the accused had argued that the initial FIR lodged by the victim’s father stated there were unknown people and the police dragged in these accused (Shubnam Dattatrey Barade (19), Mahesh Maruti Khot(24) and Abhishek Chavan (29) all residents of Kalepadal near Hadapsar.
Meanwhile, another accused in the 2014 murder of IT professional Mohsin Shaikh has sought bail on grounds that the trial was hanging fire for over two years.Rahul Kurule (21), a member of the fringe right-wing Hindu Rashtra Sena (HRS), has applied for bail at a special court here saying he had spent two years in jail for a murder in which he had no role.
In June 2014, the brutal killing in the beating to death of young Mohsin, soon after the Modi government came to power was viewed with horror and condemnation. Protests had been held in different cities against the killing. Allegedly, the mob targeted innocent Mohsin who sported a skull cap, after derogatory pictures of Shivaji and Bal Thackeray uploaded on Facebook triggered communal tension across the city over the weekend, according to the police version..
At the time, seven people, aged between 19 and 24 years, had been arrested. They were associated with the Hindu Rashtra Sena, a radical outfit active in the state, the police had said. At that stage, the Crime Branch also called Hindu Rashtra Sena chief Dhananjay Desai for questioning. He was later arrested in connection with an earlier case at Pune Cantonment police station, relating to distribution of objectionable pamphlets in March this year.
Shaikh was reportedly assaulted near his rented home in Bankar Colony, Hadapsar, as he was returning with a friend, Riyaz, after offering namaz at a masjid, around 9 pm. Riyaz had told the media alleged that Moshin was targeted because he was wearing a skull cap and had a beard. “I ran from the spot and called his brother Mobin for help. However, by the time Mobin came, Mohsin was badly beaten up and the assailants were about to leave,” he told The Indian Express. Mohsin succumbed to the brutal injuries at 1 a.m. on June 3.