Special branch asks for increase in height of compound wall of former prez's house
After retiring as the first woman president of the country, Pratibha Patil moved to ‘Raigad’ bungalow in Pashan area, but a recent security audit conducted by the special branch (SB) of the Pune police found that the bungalow is not “adequately safe”.
The bungalow is located on Pashan Road near the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office.
To make the bungalow more secure, the SB officers have asked the Central public works department (CPWD) to increase the height of the compound wall and remove artificial bamboo installed on the compound wall.
The audit was conducted by the SB, Delhi police and CPWD officials a few weeks ago. At that time, the SB had suggested to the CPWD officials that the height of the wall be increased.
Deputy commissioner of police (SB) MS Tambade, who was also present at the audit, told dna, “As per the rules, we conducted a security audit of the major establishments and bungalows in the city. We also conducted the security audit of the bungalow. We then found that the artificial bamboo, which is on the compound wall, should be removed and proper construction should have been done. Thereafter, we have given our report to the CPWD in this regard and asked them to increase the height of the wall.” The bungalow was allotted to Patil after she gave up an under-construction palatial house on a defence plot in Khadki, following a controversy.
The Raigad bungalow was renovated over five months and almost Rs2 crore was spent on it. The complex, on a 56,239 sq ft plot next to the state CID headquarters has two security cabins and three surveillance posts.
Sources from the SB told dna, “The artificial bamboo, which is on the wall, is easily breakable. Also, the height of the wall from the CID headquarters side is too less and anyone can easily climb it. As a result, we have asked them to increase the height of the wall and fit barbed wires with angles on the top of the wall.” A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) squad has been sanctioned for guarding the bungalow. Tambade said,
“Currently, the Pune police are providing security to the bungalow with about a dozen policemen from the police headquarters guarding the bungalow in three shifts,” Tambade added.
Soon after she got the Raigad bungalow, a security review report prepared by the Pune police had raised security concerns, saying that the bungalow was unsuitable for the former president due to its proximity to the hill. When asked about this, Tambade said, “The security at the hill side is adequate.”
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