Hema’s family unhappy with probe

Lawyer says Crime Branch has made no progress, Chintan Upadhyay trying to influence investigation

Raising questions: Hema Upadhyay’s aunt Sheela Prasad and brother Manish Hirani at a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Mumbai: The relatives of Hema Upadhyay, who was murdered in 2015, expressed their displeasure over the investigation in the case on Tuesday, and said they would file a writ in the Bombay High Court to voice their grievances.

Hema and her lawyer, Haresh Bhambhani, were found murdered in Kandivali in December 2015. The police went on to arrest five people in connection with the murders, including Hema’s estranged husband, Chintan, who is currently in judicial custody while the case is pending trial.

Vinod Gangwal, the lawyer representing Hema’s family, said, “The case was earlier being investigated by the Kandivali police, but was transferred to the Crime Branch by order of the Commissioner of Police at Chintan’s request. We were neither asked nor informed. We were fully satisfied with the Kandivali police’s work, but Chintan is trying to influence the investigation.”

Mr. Gangwal said the supplementary charge sheet filed by the Crime Branch showed no new investigation on their part, and was only based on the Kandivali police’s probe.

He also questioned advocate Raja Thakre representing Chintan in the case. “Mr. Thakre has been a public prosecutor in various big cases and knows the system inside out. How can he be a defence lawyer? Further, he comes to court in a government vehicle with six police bodyguards. He is working for an accused while using the State’s facilities,” he said.

Mr. Gangwal also referred to recent media reports about Chintan painting in prison and wanting to meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to gift him a painting, saying that Chintan was trying to curry favour with the CM through such tactics.

Hema’s aunt Sheela Prasad said, “We have lost our child and are living with the grief. Chintan should be punished, but is trying hard to save himself. I remember going to identify the body and going numb with shock. How can anyone do this to someone they have loved and lived with? Does he have no heart?”

Her brother Manish Hirani said, “In March, a video went viral which showed Chintan roaming freely in the court premises without a police escort. I wouldn’t be surprised if he manages to escape from court some day.”

Mumbai Commissioner of Police D.D. Padsalgikar could not be reached, while Mr. Thakre refused to comment.