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MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Thursday issued notice to state and police department “to respond as to why the investigation in the present case be not transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)’’ in connection with a criminal case filed by a Thane man who alleged he was abducted by police guards and beaten “mercilessly’’ by over 15 men in presence of cabinet minister Jitendra Ahwad at his bungalow.

Justice Girish Kulkarni, also directed that “evidence in nature of CCTV footage and investigation so far be also protected and kept in safe custody of chief judicial magistrate, Thane”.

Anant Karmuse (40), a civil consultant, had petitioned the high court where his advocate Anirudh Ganu, via video-conferencing, sought interim orders to preserve the CCTV footage outside Ahwad’s bungalow, the movement of police cars and call data records of police officials and of Ahwad to prevent any tampering. The court asked the police to preserve them with the magistrate.

Karmuse alleged that he had been beaten up over his social media post critical of the minister. The April 6 FIR lodged at Vartak Nagar police station is against ‘one unidentified person’ and Karmuse wants the police to name and probe Ahwad, other police officials.

Public prosecutor Deepak Thakre said it that was “mere allegations’’ and he sought time to take instructions from the police since he had received the petition only on Wednesday.

