Lonavala raid accused booked, but say police haven’t contacted them
Though the Lonavala police have booked the owner of a bungalow, Saifuddin Colombowala, and the tenant, Seema Kumari, and have declared them to be absconding, both the accused insist on Sunday that they have not been contacted by the police.
The bungalow, situated in Lonavala’s upmarket Gold Valley Society, was raided on the night of April 3 by the police, who arrested 45 Mumbai students for indulging in an obscene party.
Meanwhile, citing violation of the rental agreement as a reason, Colombowala terminated the contract with his tenant, Seema, who had allowed the students to party in the bungalow.
Furious for being booked in a case with which he alleges he has no connection, Colombowala said that since the day of the incident, the police have not intimated him about the charges levied against him. “I have been reading all about it in the newspapers. They never called me or summoned me, and now they have declared me absconding,” he said.
On her part, Seema too insists the police have not contacted her or informed her about any charges. She, however, declined to comment on the matter.
According to Colombowala, following the incident, his lawyer Sanjay Vandre personally submitted his rental agreement at the police station on April 8.
“I have had this property since 1992. Five months ago I rented it out, but none of the neighbours or society members ever complained about any nuisance. Now, suddenly, this incident happens and I’ve been dragged into it,” Colombowala said.
The police had gone to the bungalow in the early hours of April 3 after they received a call from the watchman of another bungalow on the same plot, also owned by Colombowala. A family, who had rented the second bungalow, said in their statement to the police that the revelry next door had disturbed them at night, following which they asked the watchman to call the police. They said the party had spilled onto the area between the two bungalows.
However, refuting the claims of Colombowala and Seema, Senior Inspector I S Patil of Lonavala City Police Station said that the police had tried to get in touch with them, but they hadn’t responded. “Both Colombowala and Seema Kumari are accused in the case, and both of them have been booked. We tried to contact him, but he did not respond. Both the accused are currently untraceable. We are searching for them and will arrest them soon,” Patil said.
Colombowala further said that he has terminated the contract with Seema, who had rented the bungalow to be used as a guest house for her company, Hotelport Hospitality Services. “My lawyer revoked the agreement on April 9. She and her caretakers are banned from the premises. I will take possession of the bungalow next week,” Colombowala said.
The bungalow, situated in Lonavala’s upmarket Gold Valley Society, was raided on the night of April 3 by the police, who arrested 45 Mumbai students for indulging in an obscene party.
Meanwhile, citing violation of the rental agreement as a reason, Colombowala terminated the contract with his tenant, Seema, who had allowed the students to party in the bungalow.
Colombowala said that five months ago he leased out the property to Seema strictly for residential purposes. “I had specified in the agreement that no drinking or partying was permissible on the property. Whatever happened was not to my knowledge,” Colombowala said. He added that along with the agreement, a no objection certificate had also been taken from the police.
Furious for being booked in a case with which he alleges he has no connection, Colombowala said that since the day of the incident, the police have not intimated him about the charges levied against him. “I have been reading all about it in the newspapers. They never called me or summoned me, and now they have declared me absconding,” he said.
On her part, Seema too insists the police have not contacted her or informed her about any charges. She, however, declined to comment on the matter.
According to Colombowala, following the incident, his lawyer Sanjay Vandre personally submitted his rental agreement at the police station on April 8.
“I have had this property since 1992. Five months ago I rented it out, but none of the neighbours or society members ever complained about any nuisance. Now, suddenly, this incident happens and I’ve been dragged into it,” Colombowala said.
The police had gone to the bungalow in the early hours of April 3 after they received a call from the watchman of another bungalow on the same plot, also owned by Colombowala. A family, who had rented the second bungalow, said in their statement to the police that the revelry next door had disturbed them at night, following which they asked the watchman to call the police. They said the party had spilled onto the area between the two bungalows.
However, refuting the claims of Colombowala and Seema, Senior Inspector I S Patil of Lonavala City Police Station said that the police had tried to get in touch with them, but they hadn’t responded. “Both Colombowala and Seema Kumari are accused in the case, and both of them have been booked. We tried to contact him, but he did not respond. Both the accused are currently untraceable. We are searching for them and will arrest them soon,” Patil said.
Colombowala further said that he has terminated the contract with Seema, who had rented the bungalow to be used as a guest house for her company, Hotelport Hospitality Services. “My lawyer revoked the agreement on April 9. She and her caretakers are banned from the premises. I will take possession of the bungalow next week,” Colombowala said.
