HC to hear plea for fresh probe into Karkare's death

 A petition seeking fresh probe into the death of former Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare who laid down his life during the 26/11 terror attacks would be heard by the Bombay High Court after the summer vacation.

The petition has been filed by Radhakant Yadav, former MLA from Bihar, based on the book “Who Killed Karkare”. The book is written by S M Mushrif, former IGP, who is best remembered for exposing the fake stamp paper scam involving Abdul Karim Telgi.

On Friday, the Union government said that it would argue the matter before filing any reply, following which the court posted it for hearing after the summer vacation.

Karkare, 53, an officer of the rank of special inspector general of police, heading the ATS, died at the Rang Bhavan Lane, along with other officers including ACP Ashok Kamte and anti-extortion cell chief Vijay Salaskar, when Abu Ismail and Mohammed Ajmal Kasab sprayed bullets on them.

Mushrif’s book claimed that a conspiracy hatched by Hindu extremists led to the death of Karkare. The petitioner has sought setting up of a SIT to probe this angle.

The petition alleged that Abhinav Bharat, a right wing group whose name surfaced during the probe into the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast, wanted to get rid of Karkare  as the IPS officer had solved the case and was about to arrest some more people.

It claimed the Intelligence Bureau was aware of the impending November 26, 2008 attacks and Abhinav Bharat, with the connivance of IB, launched a “parallel operation”to kill Karkare.
DH News Service