Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts Exclusive

In a POCSO case ( Special Sessions case 502 of 2018 ) , Pune Bishop Thomas Manwel Dabre is shown as wanted and absconding since 2018.

The charge sheet ( relevant portion reproduced by Sprouts ) filed by then Investigation Officer ( I.O. ) Police Sub Inspector – G.B.Mhaske of Wanwadi Police station mentions – Wanted to accuse Bishop Thomas Manwel Dabre after the investigation found committing an offense under section 21 (2) of POCSO act.

It is a mystery as to how a celebrity like Dabre who makes it often to newspapers and TV channels was untraced by Pune Police for 4 long years.

Publicity-crazy Dabre, a frequent flyer abroad and zooming in his swanky 17 lakhs ( stolen but now surrendered ) car in Pune to hide and abscond from police for 4 years is a dubious record for Wanwadi police.

All Police officers in charge of the investigation and Police station in-charges of Wanwadi Police station in the last 4 years need to answer this shocking state of affairs in such a sensitive case under the POCSO act.

The preamble itself describes offences under this act as heinous.

Sprouts SIT learns that even in the new POCSO case ( C.R. no 985 of 22 ) registered against Bishop Dabre and Mumbai Archbishop / Cardinal – Oswald Gracias the concerned IO has deliberately applied only section 8 which is not applicable to both Dabre and Oswald.

This has made the case weak and easy for them to escape.

The big question is will the Pune Police Commissioner look into these serious lapses and take urgent remedial measures?

Will the Pune CP initiate disciplinary and criminal action against the concerned officers of Wanwadi and Hadpsar Police stations who have committed the blunders for obvious malafide reasons?

Sprouts SIT also has exclusive information that the accused are being supported by a top IPS officer from Mumbai.

The Chief Minister and Home Minister of Maharashtra need to order a high-level CID probe or request the CBI to take over the sensitive cases which will expose this police-accused collusion.