Ajmal Kasab costing state Rs20 crore

The director general of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has slapped a bill of Rs8.61 crore on the state government for providing security to Ajmal Kasab outside the Arthur Road jail. The outstanding bill now amounts to nearly Rs20 crore. About 175 ITBP personnel have been deployed outside the jail ever since the run up to the 26/11 trial held in a special court inside the jail. In 2011, the ITBP directorate had sent the state government a bill of Rs10.87 for their services from March 2009 to September 2010.

The second bill for Rs8.61 crore is for the period of October 2010 to September 2011.

The state home department refused to pay the first bill, claiming that the terrorist attack was not aimed only at Maharashtra but on the country. “We were about to take up the issue with home minister RR Patil when the fresh bill arrived. We have two options: Either we pay, or the central agency waives off the bill,” said Medha Gadgil, principal secretary, home department.
The central agency has refused to buy into the state’s claim.

“Instead of replying, the ITBP directorate sent a fresh bill, thus refusing to listen to us. Now the government will have to make budgetary provisions. The state home department and finance department will need to divert some funds towards security bills,” another home department official said.