'Register FIR, probe charges in Rs 6 crore deal'

MUMBAI: A magistrate court has directed police to register an FIR and investigate allegations of cheating and forgery by politician, Abu Asim Azmi, against his former business partner, in connection with a Rs 6 crore property at Kala Ghoda. Metropolitan magistrate S N Shetty said, "In the complaint, the nature of allegations are such that prima facie cognizable offences of cheating and forgery are made out.Therefore, it is necessary that investigations should be conducted by police..."
Azmi had submitted the complaint before Esplanade magistrate court against Colaba businessman, Nasir Jamal Shaikh. Azmi's lawyer, advocate Mubin Solkar, had contended in court that Azmi's signature had been forged on the vakalatnama by the accused. "Police ought to have taken cognisance of the complaint by registering an FIR against the accused and investigated it. Having failed to do so, we approached court and sought an order for registration of an FIR and investigation under section 156(3) of CrPC," he said.
Azmi's complaint said Shaikh and he had jointly purchased the property in 2003.