Special prosecutor in the policewoman Ashwini Bidre murder case has requested the Alibaug sessions court to add charges of adultery and forgery against the accused.
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“The accused, Abhay Kurundkar, after the murder, had used Bidre’s phone to send messages to her relative and her department saying she was going for a meditation camp. Hence I have submitted an application to invoke the charge of forgery. Adultery was also requested to be invoked as the accused was aware that Bidre was married and yet maintained physical relationship with her,” Pradeep Gharat said.
Mr. Gharat has requested the court to add Section 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy), Section 465 (forgery), Section 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), Section 471 (using genuine as forged), and Section 497 (adultery) of the IPC.
The court has scheduled the hearing on argument on framing of charges for June 1.
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Till now, there has been three dates in the trial of the murder case. Mr. Gharat has alleged that there has been no initiative by the Navi Mumbai police to get in touch with him to discuss the case.
“The police did not appear in any of the three dates. After three dates went by, I wrote to the Navi Mumbai police after which Assistant Commissioner of Police Ajay Kadam of the Crime Branch met me on Tuesday and said there was some confusion and not lack of interest,” Mr. Gharat said.
Meanwhile, an officer who is part of the investigation, said, “The advocate has received all documents and a copy of the charge sheet from the court. When there will be evidence, our officers will be present in the court. The department is following due procedure and there is no question of lack of interest.”
The Sections that the police had mentioned in the charge sheet are Section 302 (murder), Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence), and Section 364 (kidnapping or abducting in order to murder) of the IPC.
Meanwhile, Bidre’s husband Raju Gore alleged, “I have always said that the police have been shielding the accused. Mr. Gharat’s letter proves that the police are not interested in punishing the guilty.”