2 cops suspended for 'preferential treatment' to Yusuf Lakdawala

Mumbai: Two policemen have been suspended for allegedly providing preferential treatment to Yusuf Lakdawala, arrested in a land grab case, during a search operation conducted at this house in Mumbai, a senior police officer said on Thursday.

Lakdawala, a real estate developer, was arrested recently from Ahmedabad airport by the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Mumbai police, when he was allegedly trying to flee the country.

A team of police had taken Lakdawala to his house in Bandra for a search operation on Sunday, the officer said.

"There, he was allowed to use the washroom, have a shave and take a bath. He also consumed food there," he added.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, EOW, Parag Manere, said, "We found that it was a breach of process. As the accused was in custody, he should not have been allowed to do all these things."

Assistant police inspectors- Vilas Rathod and Sandeep Sawant- were then suspended on Monday for dereliction of duty, he said.

Lakdawala had allegedly attempted to usurp four acres of land in Khandala, worth Rs 50 crore, by submitting forged documents to the registrar's office.

He is also accused of destroying original documents from the Mumbai registrar's office.

Lakdawala has been booked under Section 465 (forgery) and other relevant provisions of the IPC and the Indian Registration Act, for making false statements and delivering false copies.