BHOPAL : What had begun on Friday morning as a sob story of a middle-aged stalker making advances towards a young girl and throwing acid on her when spurned, acquired an altogether different hue by the evening.
The man, it was said, committed suicide after attacking the girl. What made the story even more sensational was the fact that the girl had complained against the assailant in more than one police stations but the police took her lightly.
The police swung into action only after the girl was attacked. SP Arvind Saxena was named Investigating officer of the case and three cops were penalised for inaction on the girl’s complaint.
By evening, it became clear that the case was a cocktail of murder, blackmail, numerous love affairs and extortion. The first breakthrough came when forensic specialists, ruling out suicide, said that Sanjay Patil who had attacked the girl, was murdered. When the cops dug into the background of the victim many sordid facts came to light.
It all began with the news that at around 8 in the morning, when Renu Sahu (25) left her Shankaracharya Nagar home for Iron Man Gym at Raisen Road, where she was an instructor, Sanjay Patil (47) a building materials supplier started following her. On the way, he stopped her and threw acid on her face and later committed suicide by stabbing himself in Ashoka Garden. It was said that Renu suffered 50 per cent burns and was admitted to Narmada Hospital, where her condition was reported to be ‘serious’.
Renu Sahu had lodged a complaint with Bazaria police station against Sanjay Patil on May 16 but no action was taken on it, it was claimed. It was also said that on Friday too, she went to Ashoka Garden police station, when she realised that Patil was following her. But Ashoka Garden police did not take her seriously.
By evening, the cops were clear that the man had not killed himself. “Suicide has not been established”, SP Arvind Saxena told Free Press. The Director of state medico-legal institute Dr DS Badkur opined that the Sahu had seven stab wounds on his body which could not have been self-inflicted.
It is said that Patil, who is father of three, was having an affair with Renu’s mother as well as with Renu for the past two years. He also used to financially help her family. The house in which Renu lived was owned by Sahu, who later transferred it in Renu’s name. The cops also discovered that Patil had criminal cases registered against him and was into blackmailing with Renu as an accomplice.
Renu had also developed intimacy with the Gym owner Amol Karmarkar which irked Patil who consistently objected to it and even created a ruckus in the gym.
The police are probing the case from all angles and it is expected that it would be solved by Saturday evening.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan visited Narmada Hospital where the acid attack victim is being treated and assured the family of all help. The state government will bear all medical expenses of the victim, the CM said. TI line attached, two SIs suspended TI Bazaria NK Malaviya has been line attached while SI Bazaria Mahipal Singh Dhurve and Ashoka Garden SI Roop Singh Thakur have been suspended from immediate effect on the ground of dereliction of duty.
