The Mumbai crime branch has taken over the investigation into allegations that former BMC corporator Ramesh Kamble contested the 2002 civic election using a forged caste certificate, following directions from the Bombay High Court.
The case began with a complaint by advocate Chitra Salunkhe, who alleged cheating, forgery, breach of trust and criminal breach of trust. Chembur police registered the case earlier this year and later submitted a closure report, along with the original investigation papers, to the 11th Metropolitan Magistrate court at Kurla.
The closure report classified the matter as a ‘C’ summary, stating that the complaint was neither true nor false or had been filed because of a mistake or misunderstanding. Dissatisfied with the investigation, Salunkhe approached the Bombay High Court seeking a fresh probe by another police agency.
The High Court last month directed the Mumbai Police Commissioner to transfer the investigation to another department. The Commissioner subsequently assigned the matter to the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), who has now taken charge of the further investigation.
The complaint concerns Kamble’s candidature from a seat reserved for Scheduled Castes in the 2002 BMC election. It alleges that he submitted a caste certificate identifying him as a Hindu Mahar despite allegedly being Christian by birth. Kamble won the election and served as a corporator, according to the complaint reported by the Times of India.
The caste certificate was declared invalid in 2005 by the Divisional Caste Verification Committee at Konkan Bhavan, the complaint states. The findings of the caste verification committee were subsequently upheld by the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court.
The new investigation will examine the allegations, the documents connected to the caste certificate, the circumstances surrounding its alleged use and the earlier inquiry by Chembur police. A police official said the case had only recently been referred to the crime branch and that officers would examine the available material before proceeding further.
The transfer places a two-decade-old dispute over eligibility for a reserved civic seat before a new investigating agency. It also means that the earlier closure report and the investigation papers submitted to the magistrate’s court will form part of the material reviewed by the crime branch.
The latest development does not by itself establish criminal liability. The allegations, the earlier investigation and the documents relating to the caste certificate will now be examined by the crime branch as part of the further probe directed after the complainant’s petition before the Bombay High Court.
