The Centre has ordered a probe into a media briefing by the Maharashtra ATS Chief, KP Raghuvanshi who stands accused of hampering the terror probe by revealing too much to journalists.
The Union home ministry on Tuesday ordered an inquiry to find out how senior officers from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra police gave out sensitive information to the media about a possible terror attack on ONGC oil tanks, the Thakkar mall in Borivli, and Mangaldas Market.
The ministry is miffed with the ATS for keeping the central authorities out of the loop while deciding to talk to the media.
Immediately after the two suspects were arrested on Saturday, a home ministry official said, several television channels started running reports that the two were plotting to blow up ONGC oil tanks, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Barc), and other vital installations. Some channels also flashed reports that the suspects were in touch with a person called Chacha in Pakistan.
“All these reports were attributed to the ATS,” the official said.
“The ministry, expectedly upset, has ordered an inquiry into the incident.” The verbal order will be conveyed to the state home department, he said.
The Centre has directed the state government to pull up the person responsible for leaking the names of the suspects to the media. A central government source said the Union home ministry had taken the matter seriously. “A message has been sent out that no one should jump the gun till the investigating agencies get clinching evidence,” the source said.
A senior state home department official confirmed that the Centre was upset with the ATS for disclosing the names because it might affect the investigation. “Though we have not received any official communication from the Centre, it would be improper to reveal anything right now,” the official said.
During his last visit to Mumbai, Union home minister P Chidambaram had sent out a stern message that top police officers and the administration (home) should refrain from talking too much and instead do more work.
What has clearly irked the Centre is the casual manner in which the supposed links with Karachi have been revealed. No one thought of the ramifications, the official said. “The Centre is worried that if the revelations related to links with Karachi are proved wrong, it would be a major embarrassment for India,” the state home official said.
The ATS arrested Abdul Latif and Riyaz Ali Shaikh from Bandra and Dahisar on Saturday. ATS chief KP Raghuvanshi had briefed the media about the arrests on Sunday.
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