Ex-cop tells court: Dawood property got Bhujbal’s protection

When contacted, Bhujbal, now the state PWD minister, said: “During my tenure as Home Minister, I never tried to protect any criminal.”

Vale, a deputy municipal commissioner, has already deposed as a witness in the 2003 case and there is a departmental enquiry pending against him.

The prosecution says the Sara-Sahara shopping complex is owned by Dawood Ibrahim. The complex is situated on government land, which had been earmarked for a municipal school and garage.

However, in 2000, some officers from the BMC’s Building Proposal Department allowed the construction. Four BMC officials, executive engineer HP Shah, former ward officer Kiran Achrekar and assistant engineers Narendra Rajbhar and Shirish Salvekar, have been arrested under the MCOCA.

During the cross-examination, Kamble, was asked by the defence lawyer about Vale, then the officer in charge of the ward. Kamble said, “At the time of investigation (after I recorded his statement), I found that Vale was also at fault. I made the necessary efforts to arrest Vale.”

The Special judge, Mrudula Bhatkar, asked Kamble: “Why was Vale not made the accused?” Kamble said he had put up a proposal before the then commissioner of police, R S Sharma seeking initial permission to arrest Vale. “The CP had recommended it. However, I was instructed from the Mantralaya to go slow against Vale,” he said.

He said he had put up the proposal again, but it was turned down. On further prodding, Kamble said that he received instructions from the Home department. He said, “It is true that the person who gave me such instructions has committed an offence. He was the Home minister himself.” Kamble said: “I feel that as a responsible police officer, it’s a lapse on my part (not arresting Vale). It is true that police officers should not succumb to such pressure.”

On asking why he didn’t complain to his superiors about this, Kamble said, “I didn’t complain because the CP was aware about it.”