'MiD DAY report inspired 26/11 PIL'

Petition filed in HC yesterday, seeks justice for slain cops who were given defective bulletproof jackets on 26/11

Petition filed in HC yesterday, seeks justice for slain cops who were given defective bulletproof jackets on 26/11

It was a MiD DAY report that inspired the PIL seeking justice for the cops who fell to terrorists' bullets on 26/11.
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The PIL, as first reported on www.mid-day.com yesterday afternoon, was filed in the Bombay High Court.

Our edition on December 1, 2008, had revealed how slain Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, additional commissioner Ashok Kamte and other cops were given sub-standard bulletproof jackets during the terror attacks last year. They offered no protection when the cops came face to face with terrorists.

"The MiD DAY newspaper report was the inspiration for this case," remarked IPS officer and advocate Y P Singh, who drafted the petition.

Taking the story forward, the PIL points out that 110 defective bulletproof jackets were accepted even though they were of poor quality.

Lost Battle: On December 1, 2008, the MiD DAY story Killed by defective bulletproof vests? revealed how ATS chief Hemant Karkare, additional commissioner Ashok Kamte and other cops were given sub-standard bulletproof jackets during the 26/11 terror attacks

They were tested in the year 2004 and found to be sub-standard. The jackets were returned and the payment of Rs 24.71 lakh was recovered. The supplier, however, supplied sub-standard jackets again.

This time, they were accepted and the entire amount was once again paid to the supplier.

Who's to blame?

Petitioner Santosh Daundkar, a social worker, has requested that the court order an inquiry under criminal, civil and administrative laws against the delinquent public servants involved in buying sub-standard bulletproof jackets.

The petition blames the Mumbai police commissioner as the authority responsible for the purchase of the bulletproof jackets. It points to abuse of his authority and that of officers under his command.
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It states that the then additional chief secretary of the state home department was supposed to oversee the functioning of the police department and take remedial steps, which was not done.

The petition adds that the Desk 6 of the modernisation branch of the DG office went on record stating that the file related to the testing of the bulletproof jackets was not traceable.

Hence, it was not possible to give information on the subject.

They have asked that the sensitive matter be investigated by an independent enquiry committee or the CBI.

Also first in MiD-DAY

26/11 bomb found: On September 22, 2009, MiD DAY found the 'missing' report that contained the details of the testing and published the findings.

On October 30, 2009, MiD DAY.com broke the story of the PIL against 26/11 bulletproof vests being filed in HC