MUMBAI: The city crime branch has taken over the investigation into a two decade old case involving former BMC corporator Ramesh Kamble who is accused of contesting the 2002 civic election using forged caste certificate, following directions from the Bombay High Court.The case pertains to a complaint lodged by advocate Chitra Salunkhe who had initially lodged an FIR of cheating, forgery, breach of trust and criminal breach of trust.The Chembur police had initially registered the case early this year. The Chembur police completed their investigation and submitted the closure report with the original investigation papers before the 11th Metropolitan Magistrate court, Kurla classifying it as a ‘C’ summary closure report stating that the complaint is neither true nor false or complaint filed due to mistake or misunderstanding.Dissatisfied over the probe Chitra had filed writ petition following which the HC directed the police to hand over the probe to some other agency.The complainant Chitra subsequently approached the Bombay High Court through Criminal Writ Petition, seeking re-investigation by another agency. The High Court last month directed the Mumbai Police Commissioner to transfer the investigation to another department.Police commissioner then transferred the case to the Joint commissioner of police (Crime) to conduct the further investigation and filed a report.The complaint alleges that Kamble, who contested the 2002 BMC election from a seat reserved for Scheduled Castes, allegedly submitted a caste certificate claiming to be a Hindu Mahar despite allegedly being a Christian by birth. He subsequently won the election and served as a corporator.According to the complaint, the Divisional Caste Verification Committee, Konkan Bhavan, had declared his caste certificate invalid in 2005. The Bombay High Court and subsequently the Supreme Court also upheld the findings of the caste verification committee. “The case has just been referred to us. We will now examine the allegations, documents and circumstances surrounding the alleged use of the caste certificate and the earlier investigation conducted by Chembur police.” said an official.
