Vaidya flaunts freedom, cops worry

The Mahim police, had in fact, written to Vaidya three months ago asking him to end his nocturnal chats with friends on the pavement opposite his house as the area is a known underworld hunting ground. They had pointed out that his fleeing assailants had warned that he 8220;would not be solucky the next time8221;.

Police have also urged Vaidya to avoid touring Ganapati pandals extensively simply to 8220;make his presence felt8221; during the ongoing festive season. 8220;There was also no need for him to campaign door-to-door for his party candidates during the just-concluded elections. He wasn8217;t even a nominee for the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections,8221; a senior police officer told Express Newsline.

Pointing out that Vaidya, also a sitting Shiv Sena corporator, has learnt little from the two earlier attacks, police also accuse him, quite literally, of showing scant respect for the law. 8220;He suddenly says he wants to go for a walk and we have to organise ourselves at god-for-saken hours. The entire security posse has to proceed in tow. He also doesn8217;t hesitate to dismiss the concerns of his security personnel,8221; the police officer reveals. 8220;For instance, he insists on soaking in the sun on his terrace. This happens quite often and when the security personnel point to the inherent risks, hewaves them away dismissively,8221; he adds.

Grimacing at the memory of Vaidya8217;s visit to a Shiv Sena shakha for a Satyanarayan puja about a month ago, the officer says the Sainik hung around there for no apparent reason. 8220;Fortunately, a police official patrolling the area noticed. He had to call the control room and summon two police vans to buttress Vaidya8217;s security,8221; he recounts.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Mahim division Ajit Wagh admits that Vaidya is 8220;a little careless8221; but says the police is doing its best to fortify his security. 8220;He is definitely on the underworld hit-list. He should refrain from making himself so vulnerable,8221; Wagh told Express Newsline.

After the Mori Road shootout, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ashok Dongre and Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramesh Tayade were transferred while Senior Inspector Vasant Powar and two constables were suspended. With memories of the shake-up are still fresh, the Mahim police is leaving nothing to chance. Station diary entriesare made whenever Vaidya gives them cause to worry, sources say, adding that this happens when Vaidya is 8220;a little too daring for his own good.8221;

Senior Inspector Shamrao Jedhe of the Mahim police station had written to Vaidya about three months ago and his superiors too have been apprised of the corporator8217;s carelessness. Refusing to divulge details, Jedhe merely says, 8220;We are sparing no efforts to protect his life. All the necessary care is being taken.8221; Adds Wagh: 8220;Vaidya is basically a nice chap and feels that remaining indoors may make his voters think he has stopped working for them.8221;

Displaying the very nonchalance that has been annoying the police, Vaidya told Express Newsline: 8220;I am leaving it in God8217;s hands. When I am in the social field, I have to move around. If I think about my life, who will pay attention to my social work? You tell me, is it possible to do social work sitting at home?8221; He adds: 8220;I participated fully in the election campaigning going door-to-door, attendingmeetings. I shall continue to go about my activities.8221;

Denying, however, that he sits on the Mori Road pavement with friends almost every night, Vaidya says: 8220;I have no enemies. Even today I have no clue who tried to kill me. Police said it was done at the behest of Chhota Shakeel. I have never met Shakeel to confirm it.8221; Police are, however, keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that won8217;t be necessary.