The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has said Mumbai journalist Violet Godwin "might have been killed" due to negligent investigation on the part of the Mumbai police.
In a letter to the Centre, which in turn has forwarded to the state government, the international body came down heavily on the Mumbai police.
Now the victim's brother, dissatisfied with the nature of investigation by the state CID, is moving the high court demanding a CBI inquiry into his sister's mysterious disappearance in 2002.
Violet's fault: She was instrumental in exposing a passport verification racket thriving in Mumbai. She raised her voice, along with her brother, against the construction mafia controlled by the underworld.
Violet vanished from the Gopi Tank fish market in December 2002. Her brother had written to the National Human Rights Organisation asking for its intervention.
Given the sensitivity, the body then referred the matter to the UN High Commission for Human Rights.
Violet Godwin worked as a journalist with Mid-Day, Business Standard and a couple of other major publications. She also had a short stint with the Dubai-based Khaleej Times.
The letter from UN High Commissioner, a copy of which is with the DNA, says, "Despite several complaints with the Mahim police station and the higher authorities the police have failed to take appropriate action."
James Godwin, Violet's brother, too is receiving threat calls. Godwin, said, "All along, the Mahim police kept diverting attention from the case. We did not get any information on the the case, let alone trace her."
An officer at the Old Customs House office of the sate CID said, "Investigation is on ever since we registered the case about six months ago. And we are leaving no stone unturned. But this is a sensitive case and we can't divulge more information."
J N Kathe, who is the investigating officer for the state CID, could not be contacted. And none of the Mumbai police officers wanted to share information about the case.
[ First published: March 3, 2006 Last updated: August 2, 2010 ]
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