Chidambaram flip flop on ATS, 13/7 probe upsets state

Union home minister P Chidambaram has upset the Maharashtra home department by passing an adverse comment on the pace of investigations in the 13/7 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai.

The Maharashtra home ministry, which has decided not to react, expressed surprise over the comment as it comes barely a month after Chidambaram issued a certificate of excellence for the investigations under way by the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

Highly placed sources in the ministry revealed: “Recently, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had hosted a dinner where state home minister RR Patil, top rung IPS and IAS officers working in the home ministry interacted with Chidambaram. The union minister was generous in showering praise on police officials for their work.”

However, recently Chidambaram expressed his unhappiness over the probe in Mumbai blasts which has rattled the home department. A senior officer in Mantralaya said: “Officially, none of us want to be seen countering the statement.”

Earlier, at the meeting held in the capital Chidambaram had expressed concern over pace of investigation in the 13/7 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai. The Union home ministry had indicated that it was considering handing over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) if Maharashtra police were unable to make a breakthrough.

According to state home department, “At a review meeting two months after the 13/7 blasts, Union home minister had indicated he would like to transfer the case to NIA. The state government urged him not to as the investigations headed by ATS was on the right track.”