For the past few days, however, the famous house has almost been under siege and its famous cop, reportedly unwell, under virtual house arrest.

With Election Commission authorities having mounted heavy surveillance on his fortress-like residence, videographing each and every movement there, Mustafa, who holds charge of the Internal Vigilance Cell and Human Rights in the Punjab Police, has been forced to restrict himself indoors. The EC’s move came in wake of allegations that Mustafa, who proceeded on 91 days’ leave starting December 1, 2010, was using his official clout to help his wife campaign for the January 30 polls.

Personnel from the Punjab Police have been taking turns at keeping themselves stationed around Malerkotla House. “Who has sent you here?” they ask The Indian Express team warily. Some more personnel, in plainclothes, are keeping a hawk’s eye on the main building inside the gates as well as the “outhouse” at the back, where the ADGP supposedly spends most of his time nowadays. Videographers have been deputed outside his house to record every detail of his movements.

Metres away, two policemen from Maharashtra’s State Reserve Police are standing guard outside the iron gates of Mustafa’s house — a clear sign that the Election Commission is taking no chances with the Punjab Police, whom Mustafa commands. Ask the Maharashtra cops about Mustafa’s movements and comes the reply: “We came here only on January 14. We have been standing guard here in shifts and have not even seen the face of the sahab who lives inside. He rarely comes out.”

“He underwent an invasive procedure of the heart recently and is resting. We cannot allow you to meet him,” a Punjab Police official tells The Indian Express team.

The procedure was performed at Chandigarh’s Post Graduate Institute of Medical Educaton and Research (PGIMER) where one of his blocked arteries was treated. “He may require another procedure or surgery soon,” a policeman says.

Mustafa, who after a number of complaints was asked cut short his leave, has so far failed to rejoin duty. “The chief medical officer from Sangrur sent a team of doctors to examine him on January 19. A report about his medical condition was sent to the Election Commission authorities the same day,” Malerkotla’s returning officer Sonali Giri says. The contents of this report have not been made public so far.

“According to the police reports we have been getting, his movement have been restricted. He is neither campaigning nor moving around in Malerkotla,” Giri adds.

Also, the fact that Malerkotla House technically falls in the neighbouring Amargarh constituency (despite the subdivision being Malerkotla) has to an extent helped Mustafa stay put there. Mustafa’s brother-in-law, Razia’s brother, Mohd Arshad Dally, is contesting from Amargarh on a BSP ticket. While officials said that Mustafa was not likely to campaign for Dally, the fact that he is living in the constituency of a relative who is contesting from there could raise propriety issues.

“In case he moves out of his house and campaigns, we’ll videograph it and forward it to the Election Commission in Delhi. Surveillance has been mounted on him and our videographers and other staff are on the job,” a senior Punjab Election Commission official said.

“He’s not under house arrest. He’s just taking a rest,” Mustafa’s MLA wife tells The Indian Express.

“This is my third election here,” Razia adds. “I am a daughter in this area. I don’t need my husband to win the elections. He’s on leave because of his heart problem.”

Razia is in contest with Shiromani Akali Dal’s Farzana Alam, wife of former Punjab DGP Mohd Izhar Alam. This officer has been actively campaigning for his wife.