CBI to probe case against Narayan Rane's son

The Bombay High Court on Thursday transferred the probe into allegation of attack against Nitesh Rane, chief of NGO Swabhiman Sanghatana and son of Maharashtra Industries Minister Narayan Rane, to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

A Division Bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and A R Joshi passed the order on Thursday, granting the prayer made by Chintu Shaikh, the petitioner, who had alleged that Nitesh shot at him at Swabhiman's office in Mumbai last September.

Shaikh, who was a member of the NGO then, had moved the high court

seeking CBI probe, saying that Narayan Rane, a Congress leader and a cabinet minister, was interfering in the probe.

State had handed over the probe to crime branch.

During the hearing, the High Court had directed the crime branch to submit video recording of the spot and records of the case.

Shaikh lodged a complaint with the Powai police on September 23, 2010, alleging that Nitesh, who was upset that day for some reason, had shot at him twice at the NGO's  Khar office. Shaikh alleged that the bullet grazed his cheek, causing an injury.