State tough on Gafoor,firmly behind Maria

Gafoor,who had accused four senior police officers of not appearing keen to respond to the 26/11 attacks,later clarified to the government that he had made those comments to The Week in an informal discussion,but Patil told the Assembly: “The department has taken a decision to totally reject the clarification.”

Patil also stood by JCP (Crime) Rakesh Maria,against whom allegations had been made by Vinita Kamte,widow of slain ACP Ashok Kamte. Also,he said,responsibility would be fixed within 10 days on officials responsible for the loss of the file regarding the purchase of the bulletproof jacket worn by slain Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare,and their services would be terminated.

Patil said the government examined the attacked sites,the work done by the officials Gafoor had named,records and wireless conversations. Further,Gafoor had not made his comments before the Ram Pradhan commission that probed the attacks but he had chosen to make the statements a year later.

Patil said henceforth,only the Director General of Police (DGP), Commissioner of Police (CP) or officials deputed by them would address the media. “We are starting from the top,” he said.

On the issues raised by Vinita Kamte in her book,Patil said it was a natural sentiment after the loss of her husband. He revealed a wireless conversation between Karkare and JCP (Traffic) Sanjay Barve,which indicated that Karkare,who was at Cama Hospital,had a covering police force.

Patil lauded Maria as one of the efficient officials in the police department and said he was responsible for the investigations into the Mumbai bomb blasts,the work of the crime branch and ensuring corruption-free recruitment into the police. The government would send a senior official to Vinita Kamte with its views and advise the wives of other slain police officials to avoid such misunderstandings.

On the controversial disappearance of Karkare’s bulletproof jacket,Patil said it may have been misplaced and investigations are under way. He conceded he could not understand the loss of the file pertaining to the jacket purchase.

“Responsibility will be fixed on those who are responsible for the loss of the file and their services will be terminated,” said Patil.