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Thane Police Admit Case Diary Lapses, Discipline Four Officers
Police in Thane told the Bombay High Court that some records in a lawyer’s alleged suicide investigation were not properly maintained.
The records are called a case diary.
Some pages were not numbered, and a required certificate was not completed.
The police station supervisor also did not make sure the diary was prepared correctly.
An inquiry found problems involving four officers.
The police have started disciplinary proceedings against them.
One officer said the mistakes were accidental and not meant to hide or change evidence.
The investigation has now been given to another police officer, and stronger checks have been promised.
Thane Police admitted procedural lapses in maintaining the case diary for Advocate Sarita Khanchandani’s alleged suicide case.
The Bombay High Court had raised concerns about the diary and directed police to submit an investigation status report.
An inquiry found that pages were not numbered, the required certificate was incomplete, and supervision was inadequate.
Disciplinary reports were initiated against four officers, including Assistant Police Inspectors Harshal Kulkarni and Apeksha Jadhav.
The investigation was transferred to the Police Inspector (Crime) of Vitthalwadi Police Station on August 31, 2026.
- Who
- Thane Police, including Assistant Police Inspectors Harshal Kulkarni and Apeksha Jadhav, are involved in the inquiry concerning Advocate Sarita Khanchandani’s alleged suicide case; her husband, Advocate Purshottam Lilaram Khanchandani, filed the writ petition.
- What
- Police admitted lapses in maintaining and supervising the case diary, initiated disciplinary proceedings against four officers, and transferred the investigation.
- Where
- The matter is before the Bombay High Court and concerns the Thane Police and Vitthalwadi Police Station.
- When
- The affidavit was reported on September 12, 2026; the High Court raised concerns on August 21, 2026, and the investigation was transferred on August 31, 2026.
- Why
- The action followed a High Court inquiry into the status of the investigation and concerns about deficiencies in the case diary.
Accountability Concerns
Police Explanation
Case diary maintenance
Accountability Concerns
The High Court’s concerns and the police inquiry found that the diary was inadequately maintained, including missing pagination and an incomplete certificate.
Police Explanation
A police explanation described the issue as an unintentional procedural discrepancy involving the numbering of blank pages, rather than an attempt to alter or suppress the investigation.
Officer responsibility
Accountability Concerns
The inquiry found lapses by Kulkarni and Jadhav, while reports concerning them and two other officers were forwarded for disciplinary action.
Police Explanation
Jadhav stated that the errors resulted from bona fide human error and were neither intentional nor deliberate.
Investigation safeguards
Accountability Concerns
The investigation was transferred to another officer after the court questioned how the case diary had been maintained.
Police Explanation
The Joint Commissioner said new supervisory mechanisms would ensure periodic scrutiny and prompt correction of deficiencies.
Key facts
- Affidavit
- A 13-page affidavit was filed by Dr Panjabrao Ugale, Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime, Thane.
- Case diary deficiencies
- The diary was not properly paginated, pages were not numbered, and the required certificate was not filled in.
- Officers facing action
- Disciplinary reports were initiated against four officers.
- Investigating officers
- Assistant Police Inspector Harshal Kulkarni handled the investigation from August 28, 2025, to June 22, 2026, followed by Assistant Police Inspector Apeksha Jadhav.
- Investigation transfer
- The investigation was transferred to the Police Inspector (Crime) of Vitthalwadi Police Station on August 31, 2026.
- Future safeguards
- The Joint Commissioner assured the High Court that case diaries would undergo periodic scrutiny by senior officers.
Quotes
Apeksha Jadhav
Assistant Police Inspector involved in the investigation
“The discrepancy noticed by this Court pertains to the numbering of the blank pages attached at the end of the Case Diary and same appears to be unintentional procedural lapse.”
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Sources
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