Police commissioner says he never expressed apprehensions about security in Bangalore to BBCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla

City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari asked IPL authorities to reverse their 'unfair' decision to shift the semi-final venue from Bangalore to Navi Mumbai for security reasons.

"If they don't revise the decision to shift, I am afraid the BCCI will be committing a serious mistake. They would be besmirching the fair name of a secure city like Bangalore," he said in a statement yesterday.

"The Karnataka government and state police are committed to providing foolproof security for semi-final matches in this city.
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I appeal to BCCI to consult IPL security officials, security consultants of foreign teams, Karnataka State Cricket Association and reverse their decision to shift semi-final matches to Navi Mumbai," Bidari added.

He described BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla's statement that the matches were shifted after he (Bidari) had expressed apprehensions over security for semi-final matches on April 21 and 22 far from the truth.

"Rajiv Shukla's statement, which states that I have expressed apprehensions regarding providing security cover for semi final matches is baseless," Bidari said.