Nagpur cops seek details from NMC on Pinky’s death

NAGPUR: Some 44 days after her death, there is no sign of justice for Pinky Solanki, the two-year-old toddler who died in an unmarked, abandoned ditch dug by Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited. The police department has recently woken up and sought details about the incident from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), but only after a complaint by activist Shehbaz Siddiqui.
Unfortunately, the civic body is yet to take any action against Reliance Jio.The process to forfeit the telecommunication company’s bank guarantee of Rs 2.18 crore was started on March 9, after TOI highlighted the incident. But NMC is yet to go through with the process, with officials hinting at immense pressure not to take any action against the company.
Similarly, the police department too remains silent on the incident. The police department was even delaying investigations despite a complaint being lodged by Siddiqui on April 6.
“I came to know about the toddler’s death from TOI news report. I met Pinky’s parents and also have video footage in which Harkesh Solanki speaks about the unfortunate incident. I had obtained a ghat copy of death certificate from Ambazari Ghat, where Pinky was cremated. Solanki had said that Pinky died after falling in the ditch. It is mentioned in the ghat copy also. Even NMC held Reliance Jio responsible for Pinky’s death in the notice issued on March 9. So, I was surprised to learn no action was taken by NMC against Reliance. Therefore, I took the responsibility of lodging a complaint and will fight till Pinky gets justice,” Siddiqui said.
He added that police have registered offences against the concerned agencies in the past in similar incidents. “I hope the police will book NMC and Reliance Jio officials after receiving replies from the civic body. I will move court if action is delayed, since 13 days have already passed since my complaint was lodged,” he said.
Sitabuldi police station PSI AB Nagre has written to Siddiqui on April 18 about the process being carried out by the police department. In the letter, Nagre said 10 types of information along with documents have been sought from NMC.
The police had asked for details like permission granted to Reliance Jio for digging near University Library Square, agreement between NMC and Reliance Jio for executing works, contractor assigned to dig the pit, safety measures suggested by NMC to Reliance Jio while digging or after execution of works, name and office address of Reliance Jio officials, information given by NMC health department to police about Pinky’s death, ghat copy of Ambazari ghat, complaint lodged by Solanki family with NMC, rules and regulations on digging works, and if police were asked to conduct necessary proceedings before permitting Pinky’s cremation.
NMC office bearers too have not moved to give justice to Pinky despite the issue being raised in the general body meeting.