The two activists who effected the arrest of a photographer in Mulund are now in the dock for having tried to extort him after catching him red-handed
The two activists who effected the arrest of a photographer in Mulund are now in the dock for having tried to extort him after catching him red-handed
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Two social activists, who filmed a Mulund paedophile in the act of abusing minor girls, are now in the dock themselves. Cops allege that the whistleblowers tried to blackmail the accused, and registered an FIR against him when he refused to fill their coffers.
In trouble: Ramakant Tiwari, one of the whistleblowers, accused of
having blackmailed Narshi Katira. Pic/ Siddharth Dhadve
The accused, identified as Ramakant Tiwari (23) and Hina Sharma (22), are both residents of Mulund.
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"We have booked Tiwari and Sharma under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 442 (house trespassing), 385 (extortion), 380 (theft in dwelling house) and 34 (act done by several people) of the Indian Penal Code. The matter is under investigation," said Inspector D J Patil.
On November 19, Mulund police arrested 74-year-old Narshi Katira for allegedly luring several minor girls into his house with chocolates, sexually assaulting them and shooting pornographic videos with them, which he then sold abroad. Tiwari and Sharma were instrumental in catching him in the act and turning him over to the police. However, sources now say that the entire matter was orchestrated by Tiwari and Sharma.
According to sources, Sharma was already in Katira's house while the accused was abusing his victims. She then intimated Tiwari, who was waiting downstairs with others. The group then stormed into his house and nabbed Katira.
Katira's lawyer Ashok Saraogi subsequently wrote a letter to the Mulund police to register a case against the two, alleging that they had also burgled Katira and tried to blackmail him before turning him in. "They did not chance upon Katira. In fact, Tiwari, Sharma and others entered Katira's house illegally 24 hours prior to registering the FIR. They seized CDs, a camera and some cash forcibly," said Saraogi.
The other side
"I have done a service to society, so I am not worried. If police have registered an FIR against me and Sharma, then they are at fault," said Tiwari. He said that Sharma was unavailable for comment as she was away on her honeymoon.
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