HC orders Maharashtra to form SIT to probe builder Loharia's murder

The Mumbai Crime branch, which is probing the case, had earlier handed over the case diaries in a sealed cover to the court.

The court perused the diaries before ordering SIT to probe the matter.

The probe was earlier done by Navi Mumbai police, but later the case was transferred to Mumbai Crime Branch.

Loharia was shot dead in broad daylight outside his Navi Mumbai office on February 16 last year.

Tirodkar said no efforts were being made to conduct a sincere probe as senior police officers were allegedly involved. On the contrary, he alleged, efforts were being made to shield the guilty. Hence, he was asking a CBI probe.

The PIL said Loharia had himself filed a petition in the High Court alleging 600 illegal buildings in Navi Mumbai, including 21 towers being built illegally on Palm Beach Road.

Loharia had also urged the court that his petition be heard expeditiously as his life was in danger.

Four days after that he was killed, Tirodkar said, and produced a letter written by the victim in this regard to the court registrar.

Tirodkar alleged that Loharia's son had also received a threat on phone warning him against filing police complaint.