How 'close association' of cops with underworld for intel can come under the cloud of suspicion

MUMBAI: Days after former Union home secretary and BJP MP RK Singh sensationally claimed that some "people in Mumbai police" had a hand in scuttling an operation to take down Dawood Ibrahim, the force once again finds itself facing questions on the extent and nature of its links with the underworld.

While Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said a probe would be ordered if Singh's allegations were substantiated, a source told TOI that it was an open secret that at one time the Mumbai police was divided between pro-and anti-Dawood camps. In fact, the trend of encounter specialists 'bumping off ' criminals was a direct fallout of turf war between gangs, the source said. As far back as 1983, before a police team raided his house at South Bombay's Pakmodia Street, Dawood allegedly received a tip off. He has been on run ever since.

Dawood is also known to have used his police 'connections' to access information on the rival Kareem Lala gang, until the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings which split the underworld on religious lines. In fact after the blasts, Dawood's protégé Chhota Rajan, who considers himself a patriot, began shooting down suspects in the case. In several instances, it is said, Rajan got info about his victims' whereabouts from those outside of the underworld.

In retaliation, in 2000, Dawood's men, led by Chhota Shakeel, tried to eliminate Chhota Rajan in Bangkok. Rajan survived, thanks to some timely help, apparently from some elements within the Indian establishment. No attempt was made to get him extradited or even deported from Thailand although he faces dozens of criminal cases in India even today.

One of the more speculative of reports on an operation to nab Dawood claims nine Indian commandos entered Pakistan as recently as September 2013. The team, codenamed 'Super Boys', was fed details of Dawood's movements but a last-minute phone call led to the operation being called off.

While some cops say their job makes it imperative for them to be in touch with criminals, many say the scenario has drastically changed now.

A source cited the case of an inspector to show how even policemen contacting their underworld sources for intel can come under the cloud of suspicion. In 2003, a Mumbai crime branch inspector was asked to negotiate with Dawood's younger brother, Iqbal Kaskar, and convince him to come down to Mumbai. The officer did his job; Kaskar was deported from UAE to Mumbai. But the officer was dismissed, citing his 'close association' with the underworld. The officer reportedly clarified that he was following orders but in vain.

"Today you will not find Mumbai's cops keeping in touch with the Rajan or Shakeel gangs even for information. The new generation of police officers are independent and hardly have any inclination towards any gang," says another source.