Kasab's 'anda' cell cost Rs 5.2 crore

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Public Works Department has spent a whopping Rs 5.24 crore to construct a high security cell at Arthur Road Jail to protect Kasab from any possible attack or sabotage.

The 'anda' cell, as it is called, where Kasab is kept in solitary confinement, has a reinforced steel wall.

A senior home department official admitted this is arguably one of the costliest infrastructure reinforcements provided for a single accused in the country.

Juhu-based activist Yogacharaya Anandji, who filed the RTI query, said while he agrees security needs to be provided to Kasab, it is surprising the state has spent so much for construction of the cell.

He said the Rs 5 crore expenditure is just a footnote. "This does not include lawyer's fees, protection given by security forces and possible delays in the legal process."

TOI spoke to widows who lost their husbands in the terror attacks who agreed that security needs to be tightened around Kasab, but felt a proper audit needs to be done on how the money has been spent to construct the 'anda' cell.