Mumbai:
Mumbai Police, considered one of the best crime-fighting forces in the world, has had one allegation come up against it every once in a while-- that of a nexus with the underworld. The latest man in khaki to come under the scanner is Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Anil Mahabole, who will be questioned in the murder of senior Mid Day journalist J Dey.
Mr Mahabole's alleged links with the D-Company, the gang operated by notorious underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, were first reported in 2007. It was alleged that he extorted money from builders on behalf of the gang. Amid allegations that he was close to Dawood's sister Haseena Parkar, a case was filed against Mr Mahabole, which he is still contesting in court.
Mumbai Police's list of tainted men is quite long. For instance, those from the now infamous encounter squad, once glamourised on celluloid in Bollywood films like 'Ab Tak Chhappan'.
By the late 1990s, the method adopted by these men for eliminating gangsters had come under scrutiny. These men were accused of carrying out fake encounters as agents of the underworld.
Pradeep Sharma, who is in judicial custody, was arrested for ordering one such encounter. He has a staggering total of a 104 encounters to his "credit".
Daya Nayak, with 85 encounters under his belt, was arrested for underworld links and owning disproportionate assets. He was reinstated in 2010, but has not been given any post yet.
Ravindra Angre, responsible for 52 encounters, was arrested for assaulting and trying to extort money from a local builder and has been granted bail only recently.
For several years now, these policemen have avoided the limelight. Going about their work quietly, in the deep trenched of Mumbai's underbelly.
However, attention has once again returned to haunt them as Anil Mahabole comes under the scanner.