38
them. It is evident, therefore, that DW-1 received prior information regarding
Neha’s likely whereabouts and further details even to the extent of a description
of her attire. The prosecution’s studied silence with respect to her role is not just
mystifying but is a matter of concern.
71.
The prosecution sought to establish through the testimonies of the IO as
well as PW-3 (Deepak Ranade) and PW-6 (Triyambak @ Prafulla), that Neha
was taken to the police station and questioned. They then proceeded to Neha’s
house. As per the IO’s testimony, the raiding party included PW-19 and PW-4.
The further prosecution case in the statements of PW-31, PW-3 and PW-6 was
that Neha was interrogated on the way to her house and later arrested, after
which her disclosure statement was recorded leading to the recovery of the
stolen articles at her behest. At this instance also there was not even a slight
whisper by any prosecution witness about DW-1 Deepika Shinde’s role.
72.
During her deposition, DW-1 affirmed that she had gone to the crime
scene on 19.06.2011 itself. She also admitted that
“I had analysed call records in the instant case. Today, I cannot tell as to which
call and as to how it was analysed by me. I had not investigated the instant
matter. I recall that I had interrogated one accused in this matter later. I might
have interrogated lady accused (Neha Verma) present in the Court is the same
person whom I had interrogated.”
Later, DW-1 was unable to state the precise time in terms of number of hours
after the incident when she had interrogated Neha. However, she was clear that
she did so after Neha’s arrest by PS MIG. She further clarified that she had
“interrogated Neha Verma in MIG Police Station itself.” PW-7 Sandeep
Narulkar who concededly joined the investigation as a panch witness on
23.06.2011, admitted in the cross-examination that DW-1 “Police SubInspector was not with us, she was in other vehicle”. This witness was crossexamined on 02.03.2012 but he failed to identify her on that day. He, however,
admitted that he could not remember how many lady officers were present
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents