16 April,2011 07:05 AM IST | | J Dey
Crime Branch, Property Cell and Criminal Intelligence Unit officers have been deputed at Sessions court to foil any attack on high-profile undertrials
The Mumbai police have beefed up security on the court premises to foil any imminent attacks from the underworld gunmen who might be planning to bump off undertrial accused of important cases or help them escape from custody.
At least three separate teams from the Crime Branch, Property Cell and Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) were deputed at the Sessions Court as one of the key suspects Devendra Jagtap was escorted for hearing yesterday.
The cops suspect that Jagtap's associates may try to free him from their custody again. Last week, the cops had arrested two gunmen, foiling their plan to free Jagtap as he was being taken to the court.
"We've deployed policemen at the Sessions Court to ensure security on the premises. There is no plan to step up vigil within the court premises, but if any important or high-profile accused is to be produced, we step up the vigil. Additional force is also deployed as and when necessary," said DCP Rajkumar Vhatkar.
A country-made revolver, live rounds and chilli powder were recovered during the hour-long combing of the courtroom last week.
According to the police, train blasts accused, a few advocates and members of rival gangs could be on the hit list of the henchmen of the underworld.
According to sources, the actual target of the April 8 attack was an accused of the 7/11 blasts, who was present for hearing on the fateful day. Underworld don Santosh Shetty's men had come prepared to bump off a train blasts accused, but the plan was foiled because of alert officers.
The arrested gunmen might also be planning to bump off an advocate whose photographs were recovered from their possession.
The Crime Branch, in its application, has told the magistrate that the arrested suspects are yet to confess to the plot surrounding the attack and a few more weapons are yet to be recovered.
Crime advocate Rajesh Shrivastava said the courts are heavily guarded with over 100 policemen during working hours. "It is virtually impossible to carry out any attacks," he added.
Flashback
September 6, 1983: Dawood Ibrahim hireling David Pardesi killed Amirzada inside Sessions Court by pumping four bullets.
April 18, 1994: Arun Gawli hireling Ravindra Sawant pumped a bullet into the head crippling of Ashwin Naik in Sessions Court.
December 1997: Dawood's men made an attempt on the life of Chhota Rajan aide outside Sessions Court.
