Mumbai, Feb 21 (PTI) The Bombay High Court was today informed that the Maharashtra Crime Investigation Department (CID) has arrested four police constables attached with the Ulhasnagar police station for their alleged role in the custodial death of one Narayan Rathod in March 2011. Public prosecutor Pandurang Pol informed the High Court that the CID had lodged an FIR and is probing the matter. "Four arrests have been made so far out of the seven police constables accused in the case. The remaining three are absconding," Pol said. A division bench of Justices S A Bobade and R D Dhanuka was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Hardas Tharwani, a social activist from Ulhasnagar, seeking probe by an independent agency against the Ulhasnagar police for allegedly murdering Rathod in custody. According to the PIL, a double murder had taken place in Ulhasnagar on February 25, 2011, of a senior citizen couple - Govardhandas (70) and Kavita Dalwani (65). Govardhandas was a retired Central Reserve Police Force official. The police called their son-in-law, Rathod, for questioning after two days. He was called on three occasions for questioning. On March 1, 2011, he was allegedly beaten up which led to his death. The PIL alleged that Rathod's family was not allowed to see the body and he was directly taken to crematorium. Tharwani had addressed a letter to the commissioner of police, director general of police and the state human rights commission. However, as there was no response, he filed a petition. The case was then handed over to CID for investigation. Affidavit was filed by Narayan Wakhare, deputy superintendent of police, CID, stating that he has conducted the inquiry and concluded that there was a need to lodge an offence against the seven police constables. The four arrested are - Anil Sangle, Ashok Bhosale, Dwarkanath Karale and Prakash Salve. In view of the arrests by the CID, the High Court has disposed of the PIL.
