Why are Mumbai Police protecting a bookie, Mr Rakesh Maria?

Mumbai police, which claim to have heightened surveillance of bookies during the ICC World Cup on orders from its chief Rakesh Maria, have also provided known international cricket bookie Anil Jaisinghani with armed policemen as protection just before the tournament began on Saturday.

The duality of approach becomes starker when you consider that Jaisinghani is a suspect under ICC's Anti Corruption and Security Unit's scanner.

Who is Jaisinghani?
He has been arrested for betting multiple times -- in 2002 in Ulhasnagar, in 2005 in Raipur and in 2009 in Mumbai -- under the Gambling and Telegraph Act. His name also shows up as a 'history-sheeter' on the Thane police website. In 2010, then home minister RR Patil withdrew protection following a question in the assembly by BJP's Devendra Fadnavis and in the legislative council by the party's Ranjit Patil on why Jaisinghani was being given the privilege.

But Fadnavis is the CM now...
Yes, and Ranjit Patil is minister of state for home. Many, like the party's own legislator Narendra Pawar, are raising eyebrows as to why protection to the kingpin in the 'Rs 1,200 crore World Cup betting scene' has been reinstated. "How can a man with such an 'impressive' criminal track record of half-murder, extortion, intimidation and fraud be given police protection by this government when it was withdrawn at your behest earlier?" Pawar had said in a letter to Fadnavis and Patil. dna called Patil for a reaction and even messaged him twice but he didn't reply.

What's the police commissioner saying?
The letter, copied to Commissioner of Police Rakesh Maria and his Thane counterpart Vijay Kamble, says: "Jaisinghani, who cumulatively enjoyed police protection under the earlier regime for 11 years, owes the home department over Rs 38 lakh in fees. How can he get protection again when he hasn't paid up for before?"

Is the bookie's son also being protected?
Jaisinghani's protective police posse, which accompanies his 12-year-old son Akshaan, has led to awe and fear in Ulhasnagar. "This demonstrates how blatantly a man with a known criminal track record can show that the police is in his pocket," said a police officer on condition of anonymity.

Has he got a mole in the police?
One police official told dna on condition of anonymity, "Jaisinghani's mole in the police is one PSI who had been demoted and sent on punishment transfer to Gadchiroli, following an extortion case. Reposted to Ulhasnagar, this PSI who uses Jaisinghani's Gold Maidan residence as his de facto office, is the one who pushed for the latest police protection."

What's Thane police saying?
Thane CP Vijay Kamble, who is on the verge of retirement, said: "Keep me out of this. The Mumbai police have done this without keeping us in the loop. Why don't you ask them?" Calls to Rakesh Maria and a detailed text to him also drew a blank.

What have Ulhasnagar residents got to say?
Ulhasnagar resident Ajit Singh Labana spoke of how police protection underlined why the entire area was scared of Jaisinghani. He should know. After his wife Meena Kaur trounced Jaisinghani in the local civic polls in February 2012, Labana found himself charged with a false case of attempted murder. "I was alleged to have shot at one Abdul Gafoor from Bharatpur in Rajasthan. Forget Bharatpur where the alleged attack happened, I'd never even set foot on the state ever," he said, recalling the harrowing three months of legal and bureaucratic processes before he could clear his name.

What is Jaisinghani saying?
He told dna that there was nothing wrong in him getting protection. "How could I get protection if the police aren't convinced? They feel my family and me are in danger due to vigilantism, which led to several dance bar owners and bookies being trapped in raids," he said, refusing to spell out which ones. "The protection is for that. All other stories about my involvement are lies spread by enemies."

How did he get arms licences then?
Jaisinghani has two arms licences – one in his father Bhagwandas' name and the other in wife Karishma's name. "The latter was issued by then Thane CP SPS Yadav on the last day before his retirement," a police source said. "This shows his clout," he said.