Police ‘lose’ bottle that held chemical, court gives them two days to find it

Police ‘lose’ bottle that held chemical, court gives them two days to find it
Jerrit John and Aryanka Hosbetkar
The Dadar police, which investigated the case involving a chemical attack by No Nonsense production house owner Jerrit John (45) on his former girlfriend on November 6, 2012, was left red-faced on Tuesday after the container that allegedly contained the chemical could not be ‘traced’.

That the bottle was ‘missing’ came to light when a witness, garage owner Atul Sheth (50), was called to identify it. He told the court that on November 11, he was busy repairing a car when, as per procedure, a constable approached him and requested he visit the scene of crime.

“A bottle was lying there. It was seized by the police and my signature was put on it. It was a silver bottle with the words ‘Swiss Made’ written on it,” said Sheth. When a constable and a court staffer went to collect the bag that contained all articles seized from the crime scene, the bottle was not among them.

“The article is not produced by Dadar police station, hence the examination-in-chief is deferred till the next date,” Special Women’s Judge Vrushali Joshi noted, and gave the police two days to trace the missing bottle. Jerrit’s lawyer Shantanu Phanse said, “When the trial got underway, all seized articles were submitted to the court. It is surprising that something like this has happened.”

John has been accused of attacking his former girlfriend Aryanka Hosbetkar (26) at her residence in Worli with a corrosive chemical in the presence of her mother and friends. According to the prosecution, John fled the scene after attacking Hosbetkar, an international cyclist, leaving behind the silver-coloured bottle in which chemical had been brought.

After being arrested on November 11, 2012 John was charged under several IPC sections including 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 379 (theft), 341 (wrongful restraint), 452 (trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint). Eleven days later, police added the charge of attempt to murder against him.

According to the complaint filed by Hosbetkar, Jerrit decided to ‘scar’ her after she refused to marry him, as he was already married. In the attack, Hosbetkar suffered injuries to her eye and tongue, but was discharged from hospital the same day.

Police given till Nov 17 to trace missing bottle

The bottle containing the chemical that Jerrit John allegedly used to attack his former girlfriend could be with the forensic department, the Dadar police informed a special women’s court on Thursday. The court has now given the cops time till November 17 to trace the bottle and produce it.

The police also submitted a letter written by them to the Forensic department, which stated that the bottle sent for analysis had not yet been received. The letter further stated that it should be returned, as it is required for the trial.

“We are still searching for the exact location of the bottle as the storekeeper, with whom these articles are usually kept in the police station, is on leave,” an officer told Mirror, on the condition anonymity.

On Tuesday, the trial in the case could not proceed after the bottle meant to be identified by a witness was not to be found. The court had then given police two days to trace it.

The production house owner has been accused of attacking his former girlfriend Aryanka Hosbetkar (26) at her residence in Worli with a corrosive chemical, in front of her mother and friends in November 2012. According to the prosecution, right after attacking the internationallevel cyclist, John fled the scene of crime, leaving behind the silver colour bottle.

After being arrested soon after the incident on November 11, 2012, John was charged with several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 379 (theft), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 452 (trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint). Eleven days later, the police added the charge of attempt to murder against him.

According to the complaint filed by Hosbetkar, Jerrit decided to “scar” her after she refused to marry him, as he was already married.

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/crime/Police-given-till-Nov-17-to-trace-missing-bottle/articleshow/45141674.cms