Will an investigation into bookie Anil Jaisinghani ever happen Mr Patil?

A week since MoS Home (Urban) Ranjit Patil ordered an investigation into the police protection given to notorious international bookie Anil Jaisinghani (on the run from ED and police) there is still no clarity on who will conduct the investigation or what the terms will be. It will be recalled that on April 11, Patil promised a probe in the Legislative Council in response to a question by MLC Gurmukh Jagwani (BJP).

Many in there are several red faces in his own department. Nearly a year ago, on May 30, 2015, CM Devendra Fadnavis had asked additional chief secretary (home) KP Bakshi to do exactly that in reaction to a series of dna front pages (since Feb 17, 2015) highlighting how a suspect under ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit's scanner – was given armed police protection ahead of the World Cup.

A year later nothing has come of that inquiry. Repeated attempts to reach out to Bakshi, who is away on a visit to Gadchiroli, drew a blank. MLC Niranjan Davkhare (NCP) who was part of the discussion in the house on April 11 and also represents Ulhasnagar where Jaisnghani resides told dna, "He has tried to grab property, land and extort money from people. Anyone who resists or puts up a fight is then harassed with false cases in other states.

One Dhalu Nathani was under arrest in Madhya Pradesh in a false bootlegging case, Deepu Balaji had a false rape case lodged against him in Jammu and Kashmir and Hira Bulani, who stood up to Jaisnghani found false rape cases filed against him from Ulhasnagar and Rajasthan. Kishore Keswani (whose land was grabbed overnight by Jaisinghani) had filed six complaints with Ulhasnagar police about the threat to their life and the fear of being trapped in a false case. Though he presented February 10th and 11th CCTV footage from various Mumbai locations, he had a false case filed against him by Anjuna police in Goa for raping a woman on the same date."

Demanding a CID inquiry into all of Jaisinghani's activities Davkhare further demanded, "Looking at how he's targeting people, this history-sheeter should be charged under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999.

MLC Vinayak Mete who was also part of the discussion wanted to know from the government what action it will take against the police officials consistently trying to help Jaisinghani. "Such officers should be suspended and strong criminal charges filed against them for aiding and abetting criminal activities."

Many victims of Jaisinghani like Powai resident Kishore Keswani echo Mete. Keswani told dna, "The local assistant police inspector NM Chougule who has received all the six complaints told the home ministry that no complaint was ever made."

Jaisinghani 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. He shows up as a 'history-sheeter' on the Thane police website. In 2010, then home minister, the late RR Patil withdrew protection following a question in the assembly by Fadnavis and in the council by Patil on why Jaisinghani was being given the privilege. But later under Fadnavis' own watch as CM and Patil's as MoS Home (Urban) protection to the kingpin in the 'Rs 1,200 crore World Cup betting scene' was reinstated under orders of then Mumbai police chief Rakesh Maria.

The protection was finally withdrawn on May 26 on Fadnavis' orders after the police protecting Jaisinghani prevented officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from entering his house during a raid four days earlier.