LAHORIA CASE

‘How can a murder accused use phone in judicial custody?’

HC Orders Thane Jail, Hosp To Show Bijlani Case Papers

S Ahmed Ali TNN

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Friday came down heavily on the Thane jail authorities, asking them to explain how an accused could travel in a private car to court or use a cellphone while in judicial custody. The division bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and Gautam Patel has asked the Mumbai crime branch as well as the jail authorities to produce all medical records of Suresh Bijlani, the main accused in the murder of builder Sunil Lahoria, and adjourned the matter for a week.
    The court passed the remark while hearing a writ petition by Lahoria’s son Sandeep. The Thane jail as well Thane civil hospital will have to give explanations and detailed medical reports of Bijlani’s treatment.
    Meanwhile, a Thane court, which was also hearing Sandeep’s allegation that Bijlani was enjoying “VIP treatment” in the hospital, has asked jail authorities to produce his medical papers and will hear the matter on September 11. U D Pawar, superintendent of Thane jail, was present in the court on Friday.
    In his plea, Sandeep had attached photos and videos of Bijlani using a cellphone. “We submitted all documentary evidence, including pictures and videos of Bijlani not only using a cellphone but even moving in a Mercedes from the jail to court,” said Sandeep’s advocate Himanshu Kode.
    Bijlani’s lawyer Ramesh Tripathi said, “These are wrong allegations to harass Bijlani. Sandeep had bribed a police officer who clicked a picture to show Bijlani speaking on a cellphone.”
    Last week, Thane magistrate K R Warrier had directed the Thane jailer to be present on September 6 to explain how Bijlani was admitted to Thane civil hospital without the court’s permission. Bijlani was caught on CCTV talking to his friends without any police security instead of being inside the Thane jail. Tripathi had said Bijlani was admitted to hospital as he was suffering from a knee problem.
    Lahoria was shot on February 16 outside his Navi Mumbai office. Shooters Venkatesh Shettiar and Wajid Qureshi, ex-encounter specialist Emmanuel Amolik, Bijlani, Bhupesh Gupta and five others were held. Another accused, Anuragh Garg, is absconding.

Suresh Bijlani was caught on CCTV talking over phone in the Thane civil hospital