Can CBI nail Shetty killers?

Activists welcome CBI inquiry, but fear evidence may have been tampered with by now

Activists who had been demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry in the RTI activist Satish Shetty murder expressed satisfaction over Home Minister R R Patil's decision to hand over the case to the central agency.

But some feel it may already be too late.

Vijay Kumbhar, a city-based activist, said, "Too much time has passed. It's been almost four months and I fear some of the important evidence might have been tampered with."

Former inspector general S M Mushrif said, "We have to admit there was a delay in transferring the case to
CBI but I do not think evidence might have been lost. So far, throughout the investigation, local police just concentrated on one theory. Now CBI will consider all angles and start the investigation with a fresh slate."

Family speaks
Sandip Shetty, slain Shetty's brother, who said that the local police were unable to touch heavyweights involved in his brother's murder case, told MiD DAY, "We were convinced it was contract killing. The police have arrested seven people but have failed to establish the motive behind the brutal killing. I do not believe that there should be any obstacles in investigations because of the delay."

Shetty, who exposed spurious land deals in Lonavla, Talegaon and Pimpri-Chinchwad, was killed by unidentified men on January 13 in Talegaon.

The Bombay High Court directed CBI to file a reply stating the steps it proposes to take in the matter by April 21 after a notification was issued by the state government on April 6 asking CBI to take over the case.