Security bill of 58 civilians due

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Wednesday asked the state government to file an affidavit containing details of those private individuals to whom the state police has provided protection but hasn’t received money from in return. The list of the defaulters includes former minister and Congress leader Kripashankar Singh and the former repair board chairman of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Association (Mhada) and new BJP leader, Prasad Lad. There are 58 such defaulters mentioned in the petition.

A division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice M.S. Sonak was hearing a bunch of PILs alleging that certain private persons who have been given police protection have not paid any compensation to the government. The petitions further stated that the state government, too, has not taken any steps to recover the money.

The court has expressed displeasure with the approach of the state government and the police and said that they have taken no step to recover the arrears.

“On one hand, the government is crying about a financial crunch and on the other hand, it is not bothered about recovering arrears that run up to crores of rupees,” the court said.

The HC also rapped the police authorities for not paying due attention to the recovery of the arrears. “What are the director general of police and the commissioner of police doing? Are they sleeping?” Chief Justice Chellur asked.

The bench noted that the issue was serious and directed a senior police officer of the state government to file an affidavit.

“We want a list of all those persons who have been given police protection. Against each name, the affidavit shall mention since when the protection has been given, how much money has been paid and how much money is pending and how has been recovered,” the court directed.

Mr Singh, who is yet to pay Rs 58 lakh for police security, told The Asian Age, “It is a matter concerning the state government and the security department will look into it. What should I say?”