Thane Police Admit Lapses In Advocate Sarita Khanchandani Case

The Thane police have admitted to lapses in the maintenance and supervision of a case diary in connection with the alleged suicide case of Advocate Sarita Khanchandani.

In a 13-page affidavit filed before the Bombay High Court, the police accepted that there were discrepancies in the case diary. The affidavit was filed in response to the High Court's direction to submit a status report on the investigation into the case.

The disclosure was made by Dr Panjabrao Ugale, Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime, Thane, in the affidavit. Ugale personally scrutinised the case diary after the High Court raised concerns over its maintenance. He found that the diary had not been properly maintained by the investigating officers.

The police station in-charge had also failed to ensure that a properly paginated and stamped case diary was handed over to the investigating officer at the beginning of the investigation. The certificate required to be annexed at the end of the case diary had not been filled in, and the pages had not been numbered.

The investigation was conducted by Assistant Police Inspector Harshal Kulkarni from August 28, 2025, to June 22, 2026, followed by Assistant Police Inspector Apeksha Jadhav. The affidavit records that case diary entries dated August 1 and August 21, 2026, were also not paginated.

Following an inquiry, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 4, Ulhasnagar, found lapses on the part of Kulkarni and Jadhav in maintaining the diary. Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against four officers, including Kulkarni and Jadhav. The investigation has been transferred to another officer.

The affidavit was filed in connection with a Writ Petition filed by the deceased advocate's husband, Advocate Purshottam Lilaram Khanchandani. The High Court had directed the police to submit a status report concerning the status of investigation into the case.

The Thane police have assured the High Court that they will take necessary steps to ensure that such lapses do not occur in the future. The case highlights the importance of maintaining proper records in investigations.

The Bombay High Court's intervention in the case has led to the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the erring officers. The court's direction to submit a status report has also ensured that the investigation is being monitored closely.

The case of Advocate Sarita Khanchandani's alleged suicide has been a subject of concern for the legal community. The admission of lapses by the Thane police is a significant development in the case.

The investigation into the case is ongoing, and the High Court is likely to monitor its progress closely. The disciplinary proceedings against the erring officers will also be closely watched.

In conclusion, the admission of lapses by the Thane police in the case diary maintenance is a significant development in the Advocate Sarita Khanchandani case. The disciplinary proceedings against the erring officers and the transfer of the investigation to another officer are steps in the right direction. The case highlights the importance of maintaining proper records in investigations and the need for accountability in the police force.