SIT to probe slum demolition

The Bombay High Court on Friday set up a Special Investigation under the supervision of Joint CP (crime) Lakhmi Gautam, to probe the FIR registered in the violence that erupted in the aftermath of demolition of 650 tenements at Jai Bhim Nagar in Powai in the middle of a raging monsoon on June 6.

- Urvi Mahajani

The SIT will be headed by Additional Commissioner of Police (crime) Shashi Kumar Meena, who will select DCP and other officers to be a part of the team.

The Revati bench of Justices Mohite-Dere and Prithviraj Chavan said they expect that the investigation is done in a "fair and impartial manner". The bench passed the order while hearing a plea by 28 homeless slum dwellers seeking prosecution of civic officials and the police for the demolition under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code for house trespass, voluntarily causing hurt and provisions of the SC/ST Act. They have also sought compensation.

On Friday, public prosecutor Hiten Venegavkar submitted a list of the police officers to the bench.