US citizen attack: Police burn midnight oil, call it fake case

Mumbai police, probing the alleged assault and robbery attempt on a US national working with a global IT services and solutions provider, today claimed that the complainant concocted the attack theory.

"The probe has revealed that complainant David Parish (51), project manager with L&T InfoTech, was not attacked but he himself inflicted injuries on his back and cooked up an attack story," an official at Powai police station told PTI.

Police suspect that he had come to India for some official meeting apparently against his wishes and was annoyed on this count. "Because of this, he might have cooked up this attack."

On Tuesday, David had claimed he was attacked by three motorcycle-borne robbers, who demanded his bag while he was jogging at around 6.30 am, police said.

Quoting David, police had said one of the three accused had got down from the bike and demanded money from the complainant.

In his complaint, David claimed that when he said he had no money, the second person got down from the bike and attacked him with a sharp weapon on his back. He sustained minor injury. He then punched the two, after which the scared trio fled from the spot.
David flew back to his country on Tuesday night.

The police official said that CCTV footages of Ramada Hotel, where David had checked in on Monday after he landed here from Texas, had been thoroughly examined after which investigators began doubting his theory.

"He did not come out the hotel before 6.30 am. In fact he had breakfast and remained inside his room in the morning. We have recovered a blood stained fork, a butter knife and tissue papers from his room. It is clear that he himself inflicted injuries on his back," the official said.