03 December,2010 07:56 AM IST | | A Correspondent
Complainant Yashwant Natu says in court Cong leader not to blame
The complainant in the alleged land grab case involving Congress city vice-president Deepak Mankar and others told the court of Additional Sessions Judge Usha Thakre yesterday that Mankar did not grab his property and that he had no grievances against the city Congress committee.
Yashwant Natu, the complainant, said this during cross-examination by defence lawyer Sureshchandra Bhosale.
Natu also said that he did not hatch a criminal conspiracy with Shiv Sena leaders Chandrakant Mokate, Shyam Deshpande and Neelam Gorhe by registering a false complaint against Mankar to keep him away from the assembly elections of 2009.
R1.25 crore by DD
Natu said in his statement that he received a demand draft of Rs 1.25 crore from one of the accused, Sudhir Karnataki, against his property and deposited it under pressure in the Karve Road branch of Janata Cooperative Bank. "The amount was withdrawn after 12-14 days of signing of the sale deed," said Natu. "Later, after consulting my chartered accountant, I went to Bank of Baroda with my wife and two sons and deposited the amount in a capital gains account to save income tax."
He admitted that he went to the Khadak police station on June 14, 2009, to lodge a complaint. MLC Gorhe and other Shiv Sena leaders were also present at the police station along with media persons.
"The complaint was registered after a discussion between the Shiv Sena leaders with ACP P Mohite and inspector Ohwal," said Natu.u00a0
u00a0Natu owned a third of the property on Survey Number 1332 and 1332 A in Shukrawar Peth, while the remaining two-third portion of the property belongs to his uncles Balwant Natu, Srinivas Natu and Suhas Natu.
The case
On August 21 this year, charges were framed against the accused for entering into a criminal conspiracy, trespassing, rioting, dacoity and extortion under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The charges were framed against Sadhana Vartak, former corporator Datta Sagre, Deepak Mankar, Balwant Natu, Avinash Natu, Shrinivas Natu, Suhas Natu and Sudhir Karnataki, among others.
Natu also deposed that he was introduced to Shiv Sena executive president Udhav Thackrey by MLC Gorhe.
"She told Uddhav that Natu of Pune has come to meet you and injustice has been done to him," Natu told the court.
The court deferred Natu's examination till December 9.
