Manhole death: Husband meets Maharashtra governor, seeks speedy inquiry

MUMBAI: Over twoo weeks after a woman allegedly got drowned in a gutter and her body was found at Haji Ali Sea, the BMC is yet to reach any conclusions as to how she fell and her body was washed away till Haji Ali. Jitesh Bhanushali, husband of the deceased woman Sheetal Bhanusali (35) and few close relatives along with BJP leader Kirit Somaiya met the governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and pressed to speed up the probe.
While the police said they are awaiting a finding report of the BMC-appointed panel and the fire brigade to proceed in the case, deputy municipal commissioner Sanjay Darade, who is probing the matter, refused to comment after stating that the civic body has not yet drawn any conclusion. Chief fire officer Shashikant Kale said that the fire brigade is not conducting any inquiry in the incident.
Sheetal, a homemaker from Asalpha village, purportedly fell into an open manhole and drowned on the evening of October 3 when it was raining. A day later her body was fished out from the sea near Haji Ali.
Jitesh's cousin Sanjay Bhanusali said, "BMC officials had promised to complete the probe in 15 days but we don't see much progress. We want justice. The guilty must be brought to book so that such an incident is not repeated. The governor has assured us that he will speak to home minister Anil Deshmukhto complete the probe fast.''
Jitesh, along with BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, met the governor on Monday. Somaiya said, "I fear that the BMC, in a bid to save its skin, is delaying the inquiry and hence we met the governor and requested for a speedy inquiry."
BMC officials said she could not have fallen into the manhole. Assistant municipal commissioner of L Ward, Manish Vallunj, had stated that the manhole in which Sheetal fell was not wide enough for an adult to to fit in.
Officials of Ghatkopar police station said that their probe is almost over from the collection of Sheetal's call detail report and CCTV footage. The police said CCTV footage shows her walking through the flooded lane to her home.