Scrap theft: 4 accused allege RPF poured petrol, beat them

The court has asked for medical tests on the accused and their reports presented in court. Representation pic

Arrested in a railway scrap theft case by the Belapur RPF last week, four accused alleged in Killa court on Saturday that the cops assaulted them in custody, poured petrol on their private parts and brutally beat them up. After recording the statements of the accused, the court asked to conduct their medical examinations and present the reports in the next hearing.

The Badlapur RPF have arrested four people in connection with the theft that took place on October 12, while three accused are still absconding. Railway scrap of more than Rs 1 lakh was stolen, out of which material worth Rs 60,000 have been recovered.

One of the accused Mohammad Abdul Shaikh told the court that the cops tied his hands and feet and beat him up, and also poured petrol on his private part. He further said that the cops beat him up so badly that he was unable to walk properly. Two other accused, Ziaud Shaikh and Hakim Sheikh alleged that they were also tortured in a similar manner. Salma Shaikh, wife of accused Mohammad told mid-day, "The scrap that they are accused of stealing has been recovered, then why are they being beaten up?"

Advocate Sunil Kumar Tiwari, who is representing the three accused, said, "The accused were arrested on October 12 and sent to police custody till 16. Meanwhile, the person who had taken the stolen scrap was also arrested and material worth Rs 60,000 was seized. Even after this the accused are being assaulted. The next hearing of the matter is on October 20 and the court has asked to present the medical reports of the accused."

Investigating Officer and RPF inspector Mohini Jhele told mid-day, "The allegations are baseless, we have not assaulted anyone. The accused have stolen railway scrap worth lakhs of rupees. When we went to arrest them while they were stealing the scrap, they tried to escape, fell down and received injuries."

Rs 60,000
Worth of stolen scrap that has been recovered