Police Commissioner Subhash Malhotra.

MUMBAI, August 13: It began with the murder of union leader Datta Samant on January 16 - the law and order situation has not stopped deteriorating since then. Film producer Mukesh Duggal was killed on March 7; 11 Dalits fell to police bullets on July 11, followed by bandhs and more violence; opposition leader Chhagan Bhujbal was attacked at his official residence few days later; producer-director Rajiv Rai was attacked at his office in Tardeo on July 31 and music magnate Gulshan Kumar was shot dead on August 12. The worst, it seems, is still not over.

While the mindless violence has left the city numb, the state government is fast running out of answers, and its leader Bal Thackeray of patience. In a hard-hitting editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamna today Thackeray has demanded to know from Police Commissioner Subhash Malhotra as to what is happening. In this exclusive interview to Prafulla Marpakwar, Malhotra replies...

Balasaheb Thackeray seems to be very angry with you. A Saamna editorial today says you have failed to tackle the law and order situation in the metropolis.

I have no comments to make on newspaper reports. Shiv Sena chief has rightly expressed his concern over the assasination of Gulshan Kumar on Tuesday. You can't deny the reality.

Do you think you will be transferred?

Transfers and postings are the state government's prerogative. If the government thinks that I have failed to deliver the goods, it can certainly shunt me off.

Do you agree with Saamna? Has the law and order situation in the metropolis collapsed completely?

No doubt that Gulshan Kumar's death was unfortunate, but it will be wrong to say that the law and order situation in the city has collapsed. I am myself not too happy with the way things are going. Though crime figures are not a yard stick for judging the law and order scenario, these are good indicators. There has been a sharp fall in extortion cases this year compared to last year. The Mumbai police is taking all possible steps to restore the confidence of the people.

Like what?

We are reviewing the security provided to individuals, particularly leading film personalities, builders and politicians. Though all of them are not in the high-risk group, we are not taking any chances. Trouble generally arises when these people get into a dispute with the gangsters over payments. In some cases, it was found that builders who had sought underworld's help in securing land later fell out with them and were killed. Gulshan Kumar's murder has created a scare among prominent films stars and leading businessmen.

Did Gulshan Kumar seek police protection at any point of time? Did he have links with the underworld?

As per official records, Gulshan Kumar never approached us for help. Neither had he lodged a complaint against any individual. I do not think that he had links with the underworld.

Has anyone else from the film industry met you in the last few days?

After the attack on Subhash Ghai, I had a prolonged meeting with the representatives of some film producers. In fact, a few producers, including Rajiv Rai, were given special protection.

Have you disbanded the much publicised anti-extortion cell?

No. It is very much in existence. In fact, it was reactivated only last year. The cell has been able to collect information about threats to some persons.

Of late your performance is being compared with your predecessor Ram Deo Tyagi. Even the Shiv Sena leaders feel that Tyagi was a better police chief. How would you react to such criticism?

Every police officer has his own style of functioning...but I would not like to be dragged into this comparison game.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.