Team of 21 that nabbed 1993 blasts accused -- the man had smuggled RDX, and AK-56s into Mumbai -- fights CBI apathy and seniors' nonchalance for nigh years before getting their due
The demand draft of one of the constables
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Nine years. That's how long constables Dilip Shinde and Jaydev Jadhav fought to claim the prize money announced by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after they nabbed a 1993 blasts accused. Demand drafts of the prize money meant for 21 people on the team that managed the feat have finally reached the commissionarate after nine years, but, the top brass of the Mumbai police are yet to congratulate or hand over the amount ceremonially.
Heroes of the operation have claimed the money like it was a normal administrative affair. This, however, may be the first time that constables, considered the last man in khaki in the force, were given a large share of a prize.
The operation
It was a constable from the protection branch, Mumbai Police, who first got a tip-off regarding a 1993 blast accused residing in Nalasopara. Jaydev Jadhav told constable Dilip Shinde, then attached to Nirmal Nagar police station. “We both kept a watch on Karimullah Khan alias KK for three months. We forwarded the information to our superiors. A team of 21 was formed, which nabbed KK on August 21, 2008.
Weapon of RTI
The CBI announced a prize money of R5 lakh for the team but there was no sign of the amount reaching them. “We were surprised that there was no reply or correspondence from the CBI to our queries. But the Mumbai Police was not going to let of this prestigious prize so easily. For years, we wrote to the CBI asking about the status,” said Shinde.
“I decided it was time to use the RTI Act. I followed up with senior officers... Years passed. Several from the team thought we had lost our chance, but I was confident,” Shinde said.
The Mumbai Police was party to the apathy. For almost a year, no follow-up was done by the administrative department. Finally, in February 2017, Shinde got information that the prize was going to be issued to the commissionerate.
“There was no official call, although the seniors knew this was a prestigious award and the team had fought hard to nab KK. We went to the commissionerate and took our DDs as if receiving a compensation cheque. It was disheartening,” said a team member.
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