I Indur Kartar Chhugani age 60 years, residing at
501/502 Pinky Panorama Co-operative Society, 6th
Road, Khar (West) Mumbai 400 052, do hereby state on
oath and solemn affirmation as under:-
1. On 24th October 2007, the Defending Public
Prosecutor Mr Borulkar made a commitment “that
he would get all the electric connections to the
police station as well as police chowkies inspected
by the Electrical Inspector appointed under the
Electricity Act, 2003” and will produce a report
from the electrical inspector, on the next date 9th
January this has not been done yet. . Also the list
of police officers involved in theft of electric
power was to be provided, no such list has been
provided yet
2. On 24th October 2007, the Defending Public
Prosecutor had also assured the court, to provide on
the next date, which was after 11 weeks, on 9th
January 2008, the list of 269 unlawfully constructed
chowkies and the names of the sponsorer of each of
these chowky. No such information has still been
furnished to this honourable court.
3. On 24th October 2007 , this Honourable court had
asked for a compliance report on illegal chowkies,
throughout the State by 9th January 2008. No
compliance report has been filed, till date, by the
Additional Chief Secreatary, Government of
Maharashtra, clearly demonstrating the contempt with
which the police department and the home ministry
treat the orders of this honourable court, which is
the highest court in the state.
4. While the police chowky outside Khar Station was
demolished on 15th January 2008, the foundation 30
inches high has been left intact, which continues to
be an impediment to the traffic. Surprisingly some
officers have spread the word, that they plan to
rebuild the chowky soon.
5. Also by an affidavit filed on 24th January 2008, I
have shown that there are another illegal 150
chowkies (approximately), all over Mumbai, apart from
the 269 illegal chowkies already admitted by the
police, which can be termed as abandoned chowkies and
must be demolished immediately. These chowkies are
used for only unlawful activities and are literally
safe places, where any contraband can be stored,
without any fear of it being discovered by any
individual or any government agency.
6. Since the order of 24th October 2007 allows me to
bring additional facts to the notice of the court. I
hereby bring some shocking facts to the courts notice
now, which have been brought to my notice, initially
by a concerned Doctor recently. These actions of
Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) are clearly
aimed at huge illegal earnings for the top police
ranks in connivance with a Advertising company, to
ensure a steady illegal income every month, year
after year, to the traffic department. After checking
all facts I have to state as under:
A. On 24th May 2001, the Joint Police Commisioner of
Police (traffic) Shri Prahlad Shinde, initiated a
proposal, by addressing a letter to the Addl.
Muncipal Commissioner, to install Umbrellas at
traffic signals with revised design, stating
“…for upgrading the quality of these
umbrellas for better visibility of the policemen
including at night and better facilities for storage
of traffic control material and better
aesthetics”. Copy of letter attached as EXHIBIT
“A”.
B. Initially 76 locations were suggested, 5 alternate
locations were suggested, thereafter another 22
alternate locations were suggested and then again
another 10 alternate locations were suggested. At how
many locations, these revised designed Umbrellas,
were finally accorded permission AND at how many
locations were actually installed, only the 3
conniving parties know the true answer, the Police
Department, the Advertisement Company M/s Everest
Media Pvt. Ltd., . and The Muncipal Corporation of
Greater Mumbai.. Plus 30 additional approved on
22/04/2003..
C. In the garb of “Revised designed
Umbrellas”, what has been installed across the
city are Advertisement booths, inside which no
policeman has ever stood to control traffic and since
they are illuminated on 4 sides, in the night no
policemen will be able to stand, because of the heat
of the electrical lights. Photograhps of these so
called Umbrellas are attached as EXHIBIT “B”. This is a clever way of having
favoured a Advertising company to acquire space at
the most visible locations in the city. For what
illegal consideration, only a thorough enquiry can
reveal.
D. All these revised designed Umbrellas are supposed
to be totally portable, according to the proposal
sent on 24th May 2001, refer EXHIBIT “A”.
E. The advertisement rates for these booths vary from
a minimum of Rs 60,000 to Rs 3 lacs per month
depending upon the location. Apart from these
Advertisement booths, the traffic department has
allowed advertisement on thousands of barricades and
“Variable Message Boards” in the centre of
the roads at 100s of places. The Ad rates for these
“Variable message boards” are Rs 2 lacs to
Rs 3 lacs per month per each location. These variable
ad messages are clearly a distraction of the same
level as the driver talking on the mobile while
driving.
F. At the Junction of Veer Nariman Road and Marine
Drive Road, three Advertisement booths have been
installed, less that 100 ft from each other.
G. During his short stint as Commissioner of Police
Dr P S Pasricha, who is considered an expert in
traffic control, did write to Jt Commissioner of
Police (Traffic) on 5th February 2004 about
“urgent review of all the traffic booths and
remove all those which seem to have been erected only
for commercial purpose”. But unfortunately he
did not remain long in that post, to be able to
rectify the wrongs. Copy of his letter is attached as
EXHIBIT
“C”.
H. While the Advertising Company was asked to arrange
for electrical connections from BEST, what actually
has happened is that connections are pilfered with
impunity, from the traffic signals, with the blessing
of the police authorities.
I. For booths installed on footpaths, not easily
accessible from the signals, meters have been taken,
but by passed cleverly. For eg the Booth at Marine
drive shows an electrical consumption of only 7 units
so far and this particular booth, I have checked
every week, since last 3 weeks. ( Click for photos )
J. The electric companies have a very efficient
system of monitoring the Electric consumption and
payment for electric bills, so cannot be unaware of
the theft of power by the “Umbrellas”
across the city, but prefer to turn a blind eye, as
they know the indirect beneficiarys are the police
higher ups.
K. This is a clever and safe way of giving a monthly
hafta to maintain cordial relations with the police
at the cost of the General Public. Action ought to be
ordered against the Electric Supply Companies. This
amounts to hafta paid ingenously by large companies
at corporate level.
L. More interesting is the fact that these booths are
utilised as Urinals in the morning by early morning
Joggers at the Marine Drive, who may have to heed
natures call urgently, cleaned in the afternoon by
those who offer massage in the night at Marine drive
and utilised by these people for any customer who
wishes some resemblance of privacy while taking a
massage.
M. Most of this information was conveyed to me on my
mobile No 98201 71571 on 16th and 17th January 2008,
by Dr Anahita Pundole. On 18th January the
Advertising agency and the police department,
undertook a urgent giant operation to remove symbols
of the police department from these Advertisement
booths, even going to the extent of pasting newspaper
sheets over the Police logos till they could be
painted, clearly NOW aware that the petitioner is
likely to bring up this matter before this Honourable
court, attached are photographs taken on 18th January
2008 EXHIBIT
“D”. This was
clearly an attempt to hide the facts from this
Honourable High court.
N. From the above facts it is very
clear that the police have my phone tapped and they
record or listen to my every conversation. This I
suspect, has been taking place since over 2 years.
The police commit unlawful acts with impunity and I
believe no one is spared, even Judges of this
honourable court who give any order against the
police, are amongst the privileged who get their
conversations recorded, for posterity.
O. In view of the above there is an urgent need to
take strict action against those who wilfully ignore
this Honourable courts orders, continue with the
unlawful acts and invade the privacy of all those
involved in disciplining them. The constitution of
India states “All are equal before the
law”, So why are police officers who have
already admitted to having pilfered electric power
connections not being prosecuted under the
Electricity Act, which is a non bailable offence.
P. The actions of Police Authorities and the
Maharashtra State, in not providing information as
ordered on 24th October 2007, clearly sends a message
“We do not care much about High Court
orders”. If this Honourable court desires that
the orders issued are taken seriously, fast and
strict exemplary action is needed against all those
who are today treating the orders of the highest
court in the state, with utmost contempt.
I say that I am presently restricting this affidavit
to the issue oforders of 24th October 2007 and
advertisement booths put up by Everest Advertising
with the help of the police with liberty to file a
detailed reply later.
Mumbai
Dated Indur Kartar Chhugani
VERIFICATION
I, Indur Kartar Chhugani Age 60 years, residing at
Khar, do hereby state on solemn affirmation that what
is stated hereinabove is true and correct to the best
of my knowledge and record and information gathered
by me, which I believe to be true.
Solemnly affirmed at Mumbai
This 25th day of February 2008 (Indur Kartar
Chhugani)