Scribe, doctor arrested for firing incident cover-up

SURAT: Crime branch sleuths have arrested a journalist of a local newspaper and a medical practitioner for their alleged role in the cover-up of a criminal case at Kamrej at least 46 days ago and trying to destroy its evidences. The journalist had pressurized the victim of a private firing, who had suffered a bullet injury in his arm, to not lodge a police complaint and instead get treatment first.The doctor, who runs a hospital in Kamrej village, had treated the victim. The role of these two came out after police registered a complaint recently on the instructions of Hasmukh Patel, DIG, Surat range, and began investigation in the matter.
It was October 26 evening when Haresh Patel alias Desai began to burst crackers with his friends near Kamrej Cross Road. A burning cracker fell on the roof of Raju Bharvad's house. The dry grass kept over there caught fire and was destroyed. Bharwad went to Haresh and asked him not to burst cracker near his house. This led to an argument between them. An angry Haresh fired from his licensed revolver injuring Bharwad in the hand.
Bharwd went to Kamrej police station to lodge a complaint. Here he met the journalist who took him to the doctor for treatment. The doctor had an X-ray of the victim done and then operated Bharwad to remove the bullet. The journalist asked the doctor to give him the bullet which the latter refused, police said, adding that both of them were known to the accused.
The journalist had tried to dissuade Bharwad from registering the compliant and worked to bring about a compromise between the two parties for which he has been arrested, police said. The doctor was arrested for not informing the police when it was a medico legal case. "Both had tried to bring about a compromise between the victim and the accused and also tried to destroy the evidences," said Hasmukh Patel, DIG, Surat range.
However, the police are yet to arrest the key accused Haresh Patel. "We are working hard to catch the accused who is on the run," said Hasmukh Patel, adding that an inquiry was on against the police officials of Kamrej, circle police inspector, crime branch police inspector and deputy superintendent of police in Surat for their alleged role in the cover up of the incident. Police have recovered the bullet from the hospital during the search.