Mumbai terror attacks: Cost of keeping Kasab alive - Rs 45cr & counting

MUMBAI: Keeping 26/11 gunman Ajmal Amir Kasab alive is proving to be rather expensive. So far, Rs 45 crore has been poured into his security, which includes special jail and hospital cells. Since the daily expenditure is Rs 9 lakh, one can only imagine the cumulative cost in 2018. The year is when his case will come up for consideration unless it is given precedence over 27 mercy petitions filed since 1997.

The figures were given to TOI on Monday by a senior home department official. "Certainly, there is sharp criticism of this huge expenditure incurred by the department, but it was essential. Because Kasab is alive, we were able to prove the role of Pakistan," he said.

A week after Kasab was arrested, he was shifted to Arthur Road Jail from crime branch lockup. When the authorities realized that the security arrangement in the jail was inadequate for Kasab, a special cell was set up for him with the help of leading experts. The cell is so strong that nothing will happen to it even if it is bombed, the official said.

Another special cell was made in the prison ward of J J Hospital. But for security reasons, Kasab was never admitted there. Doctors attend to him in jail, the official said. "He suffers from chronic ailments. We have had to spend a huge amount on his medicines. In addition, we deployed two doctors on round-the-clock duty."