PANJIM: In what could embarrass the State BJP unit just before the Rajya Sabha and Assembly by-polls, its Vice-President Anil Hoble, his wife Sandhya and son Milind have been booked for dowry harassment.
The First Information Report (FIR) registered on Wednesday afternoon comes soon after Milind’s mother-in-law Suchitra Shirodkar lodged a complaint at the women police station seeking immediate action against the Hoble family and seeking the rescue of her daughter and grandchildren.
Crime Branch SP Kartik Kashyap confirmed that a FIR has been registered but refused to say anything about any arrests at this stage of the investigation stating, “The victim’s statement is being recorded. Based on her deposition, the Investigating Officer will decide if the arrest is warranted.”
The complainant alleged that even before tying the knot with her daughter, on December 13, 2009, Milind and his family had been demanding huge amount of dowry. The incident was dragged to the police station when on Tuesday morning Anil allegedly phoned the victim’s family in Mumbai asking them to ‘take your daughter back’.
“We rushed to Goa and at around 3pm we arrived at the Hoble residence and were shocked to see the state of our daughter. She had injuries on her body. My daughter told us that she was severely assaulted and beaten up by Anil, his wife Sandhya and my son-in-law Milind,” the complainant alleged.
She accused the family of allegedly threatening and assaulting them in the Hoble residence at Merces. “While my daughter was narrating to us the torture (she) was going through, Anil Hoble try (tried) to intimidate and assault me and the rest of the family (including complainant’s husband, daughter and aunt). Anil Hoble also threatened us that if we do not immediately leave or even returned back (return) he would shoot us and would chop us with koita,” Shirodkar further said in the complaint copy urging the police to rescue her daughter and two grandchildren aged six and two-and-half years. She also demanded strict action for the criminal offence.
Sources said a team of women police rushed to Hoble’s house. The family was then summoned to the police station for questioning after which an FIR was registered under Sections 498-A (subjecting a woman to cruelty), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
Kashyap revealed that the medical examination on the woman confirmed bruises which are of a simple nature.
BJP has refused to comment on the incident stating ‘it is a personal mater’. Hoble was recently appointed as the Chairman of the OBC Corporation.
Hoble’s lawyer Amit Palekar argued that the case has nothing to do with dowry allegations. “I don’t think it has anything to do with dowry. There is something that does not meet the eye. The police will investigate,” he told media persons.
He claimed that this was a domestic matter which had unfortunately reached the police station. “It would be resolved today or tomorrow,” he said, adding that the matter should not be used as a tool for political mileage.
