Mumbai police are second to none...

"We are second to none," a Police Commissioner of Mumbai had said years ago. The occasion for flexing muscles by the commissioner was quite appropriate. The force was showered with lots of praise for successfully arresting international crook, Charles Shobhraj, in Goa after his skilful escape from Tihar Jail.
As was the practice in those days among the people and the media, while praising it for its achievement, the Bombay police force was compared with and placed next to the world-renowned crime cracking force, Scotland Yard. The then police commissioner''s comment was uttered in that context.
Over the years, the city police force, by its action, has brought its reputation to such a (low) level that nobody dares to compare it with any ace crime cracking team in the world.
With every passing year, the force is breaking its own records of misdeeds and endorsing (here) the former commissioner''s words, with a little modification, "We are second to none in corruption, nepotism, satisfying ministers, helping criminals, encounters and custody deaths etc etc etc," seems to befit the current scenario.
All such deeds were being discussed in the media over the last few years. Sometimes in hushed tones or a very guarded manner, and at other times, very openly.
But what was a common belief once, has now become very common knowledge, thanks to one criminal, who has completely destroyed the image of the Mumbai police force.
Abdul Karim Laadsab Telgi, the prime accused in the multi crore stamp paper scam, has become the cause that could give heart attacks to many policemen. Already 12 police officers are sharing custody with criminals, for their alleged involvement in aiding Telgi. The last one is Shridhar Wagal, special Inspector General of Police (IGP). For the first time in India, a very senior IPS officer of the rank of IGP has been arrested. He indeed showed "we are second to none."
Later, Mr R S Sharma, Mumbai police commissioner, the second top-most level officer in Maharashtra, faced the inquiry by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for long hours on two consecutive days.
No action has been taken against him till now and it appears to be only questioning. Some more officers are believed to be in a queue and many of them may have to go behind the bars after the questioning is over.
The SIT''s upright working style and no nonsense attitude has sent shock waves in the force. Particularly after Wagal''s arrest, everyone knows that the team is not going to spare anyone. Receipt of any fax in a police station sends shivers among the officers in the station, as it could be an SIT questioner for some officer, whom it wants to interrogate.
The officers visiting the SIT office to provide some vital info in order to help the SIT to investigate the matter are facing embarrassing situation. Those who do not know about the officers'' role, particularly media, feel that these officers are also called for interrogation. TV channels telecasted news with this angle about one officer from Thane and the SIT had to issue a clarification.
As if this is not enough, now another alleged fraud by Mumbai police has come to light. A special anti-terrorist squad in Mumbai police force is accused of generating several e-mails, purposely from terrorists, divulging plans to attack the metro and willingness to surrender for money etc.
By creating fear psychosis, the officers wanted to secure the existence of their squad. The Intelligence Bureau exposed the act of police. Police Commissioner then suddenly disbanded the squad.
Every year the Police Commissioner in his annual press conference describes vividly with figures, the rising detection rate. But several citizens, who were victims of some crime done against them, are not lucky enough to figure in that list.
Thefts in their houses or chain snatching incidents go undetected. Many times it''s not the accused or criminals but they are the ones who are harassed. Common people, due to the treatment meted out to them by the police, consider giving any information to police to help them in any way, a sin.
But such incidents, ill treatment given to complainants or low level politics among officers for securing good postings or defaming colleagues, now appears to be only tip of the iceberg, when compared to the alleged police involvement in the Telgi scam.
One interesting angle in the entire Telgi episode is that currently the probe is centered on the police involvement. In the process nothing major is happening in the investigation of basic deeds of Telgi, which involves printing and selling of fake stamp papers worth thousands of crores of rupees. The SIT is mainly looking into the police involvement part in it.
But because of its work, probably for the first time after years of misdeeds, the police force is afraid. And common Mumbaikar must be happy over it, though it is not a good sign that police themselves are scared. But there was a need for scaring the policemen.
The SIT and the court should take this fear to the logical end by sparing no guilty officer and punishing them heavily. Only that will bring the force on line. Otherwise, there will be no end to activities of many more ''Wagals'' and the people would be facing even worsening situation.
One arrested sub-inspector told SIT that he took Rs 96 lakhs from Telgi and gave Rs 76 lakh of it to Wagal. This one exposure will give a hint on the scope of the scam. Many more are yet to come. Once they are revealed, the police can then ''proudly'' proclaim once again, "We are second to none."