Kin informed six hours later

Shinde’s son

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Manmad: Kunal and Vikas, the teenaged children of Popat Shinde, were informed of their father’s death at JJ Hospital, six hours after he succumbed to his burns. Shinde was the prime accused in the killing of Malegaon additional collector Yeshwant Sonawane.

Kunal (17) and Vikas (19) were also arrested along with their brother-in-law Deepak Borse (32) for killing Sonawane.

Kunal is in a juvenile remand home in Nashik while Vikas and Borse are in the Manmad police station lock-up.

Shinde, who had sustained more than 70% burn injuries on January 25, while allegedly trying to set Sonawane on fire, died at 1.10 pm on Monday.

“We sent an officer to the Nashik juvenile remand home to inform Kunal about his father’s death. He just kept thinking something and looked at the officer. Kunal then asked whether his father’s body will be brought from Mumbai to Manmad,” an officer from the Manmad police station said. Shinde live in Manmad along with his family.

Policemen say they informed Vikas and Borse about Shinde’s death at the lock up. “

Vikas inquired as to when his father died, whether he was under observation properly and what will be done with his body,” the officer added. He said Vikas then retreated to a corner, tears in his eyes.

Police said Shinde’s daughter who is married to Borse and stays in Mumbai, will probably claim the body. She had been visiting her father when he was in hospital.

Shinde did not have any siblings and lost his wife recently.
“It seems the final rites will be performed in Mumbai only. If Shinde’s arrested sons want to join the funeral, they will be escorted to the cremation grounds,” the officer said.

Patil rethink on home secy powers

Prafulla Marpakwar TNN

Mumbai: Embarrassed by criticism of his department over key oil mafia player Popat Shinde, home minister R R Patil has proposed to revoke the home secretary’s powers to hear appeals against externment orders passed by the subdivisional officer (SDO), superintendent of police (SP) or deputy commissioner of police (DCP).

“The home department is at the receiving end over the externment orders passed by the SDO, SP or DCP as most of these are set aside by the home secretary for being passed without application of mind and in blatant violation of the apex court and high court guidelines. It’s high time we amend the Police Act and revoke the quasi-judicial powers of the home secretary,” Patil told TOI on Monday.

Patil came in for severe criticism over the manner in which the order to extern Shinde, who died on Monday, was modified to reduce his externment period from a year to six months. “Prima facie, it appears the externment order was not in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the high court, so the externment was reduced from one year to six months by the home department. I feel the competent court should take a decision on such orders,” Patil said.

In Shinde’s case, externment proceedings were found to be initiated well over two years after the offence, which was committed by him on December 23, 2003. Moreover, while the externment notice was served on him, the local police did not file a chargesheet against him before the court. Secondly, the cause notice served on Shinde did not mention the place, time and date of the crime for which he was being externed. So when Shinde filed an appeal before the thenhome secretary Chandra Iyengar, she had to reduce the externment period from one year to six months for technical reasons and the casual approach of the externing authority. “I have asked for all records pertaining to the criminal activities of Shinde and the externment proceedings. We will take stern action against the erring police officials for non-application of mind while passing the externment order,” Patil said.

The Times of India, February 1, 2011