Atrocities case: Police to file closure report against Nawab Malik citing lack of evidence

Mumbai police close Sameer Wankhede's case against Nawab Malik due to lack of evidence, court disposes petition.

Mumbai police have informed the Bombay High Court that they have investigated former NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede's Atrocities Act case against senior NCP leader Nawab Malik and decided to file a closure report citing lack of evidence.

Additional public prosecutor S.S. Kaushik on January 14 informed a division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale that after probing into the 2022 case, the police have decided to file a 'C Summary Report'.

A 'C-summary report' is filed in cases where, after investigation, the police come to the conclusion that there is no evidence and the case is neither true nor false.

Once such a report is filed before the concerned trial court, the complainant in the case can challenge the same, and after hearing all parties, the court can either accept or reject the closure report.

Last year, Mr. Wankhede filed a petition in the High Court through his counsel, Rajiv Chavan, claiming police inaction on his plaint against former Minister Mr. Malik under the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Mr. Wankhede, an additional commissioner in the Directorate General of Taxpayer Services (DGTS) and a member of the Mahar Scheduled Caste, had sought for the case to be transferred to the CBI.

The bench, in its order of January 14, a copy of which was made available on Tuesday (January 21, 2025), disposed of the petition, noting that in view of the police's statement, nothing survives for consideration.