Pune Porsche Case: 10 Accused Still Behind Bars for 9 MonthsRam Jhula Case: Key Accused Got Default Bail for CID's Failure

Nagpur: While state criminal investigation department's (CID) shocking failure to file a chargesheet within the 60-day framework paved way for default bail to key accused in Ram Jhula bridge accident case, Ritika Maloo, in stark contrast Pune police ensured that 10 accused in the Porsche accident case, remain behind bars even nine months after the incident.The Ram Jhula case, which marked one year on Tuesday, was handed over to state CID by the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court with a clear directive for an effective, time-bound, and thorough probe. It's been almost six months, and the state CID has not initiated any action against erring cops of Nagpur police, especially sub-inspector Parshuram Bhawal.While there was close monitoring of legal aspects of the Porsche case in court by Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar, the State CID brass faltered in filing the chargesheet within the deadline in the Ram Jhula accident case, leading to a default bail. There was outrage after two promising youngsters died due to brazen drunken driving by key accused Ritika Maloo. In the Pune Porsche case, police not only engaged a special prosecutor and assigned the probe to an officer of assistant commissioner of police rank, but also ensured the prosecution strongly argued against granting bail.In the Ram Jhula case, the aggrieved kin of the deceased, Mohd Atif, shocked by the brazen violations, have already approached High Court seeking contempt proceedings against CID officers, who allegedly did not show seriousness in carrying out investigations, which was already done by Tehsil police of Nagpur.The case was transferred out from Tehsil police station following a petition from the victim's kin before High Court. "We are waiting for the notices to be issued in our contempt petition against the State CID," said Mohd Atik, elder brother of Atif. Apart from Atif, his friend, Mohd Mustafa Hussain, also died in the accident after their scooter was hit by the black Mercedes recklessly driven by Maloo on Ram Jhula bridge in the early hours of February 25.Apart from the controversial probe, which was mired in loopholes, there were also allegations against Tehsil police and their seniors for shielding erring cops like sub-inspector Bhawal, who allowed Ritika and her friend, Madhuri Sarda, to flee the spot after the accident on Ram Jhula bridge. Subsequently, the vehicle was also released without court's order and this was referred to in the high court division bench order. Bhawal, in full public view, not only allowed Maloo and Sarda to flee, but also shook hands with one of their husbands who came to take them away from the accident spot.According to sources, the state CID is learnt to have sent a report against Bhawal and his seniors from Nagpur office to their headquarters, but did not receive a reply from higher-ups. After filing the chargesheet post-deadline and allowing bail to Maloo, the state CID did not file any other additional chargesheet and is also learnt to have kept the probe incomplete.In the Pune Porsche case, CP Amitesh Kumar stated they specifically mentioned before court that relatives of the minor driver colluded with forensic doctors to ensure the blood samples were changed and evidence was tampered with. "We specifically mentioned before court about the economic strata of the accused and their dubious attempt to derail the probe," Kumar told TOI.