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Illustration / Sameer Pawar |
It's the Crime Branch, which has uncovered this startling revelation. "Over 30 per cent of the operators and people whom they employ have strong criminal backgrounds. We have compiled a list of all the tainted names and would initiate action against all of them," Jt Commissioner of Police, Crime, Rakesh Maria, told MiD DAY. A special squad has been formed to track them and round them up, he added.
After cops stumbled upon this with the detention of a few cable distributors. "Our probe revealed that hundreds of men with dubious backgrounds had been recruited for operation and distribution. This was also because much of their job involved collection of funds and dealing with other criminals at times. The recovery agent's job is never achieved with only a smile," Maria said.
A few distributors in central Mumbai have been provided with security cover following threats from members of the Chhota Rajan gang. Some operators owing allegiance to the Dawood Ibrahim gang are eyeing the lion's share of income from the cable business, police sources informed. The police refused to give names of distributors and operators who are under watch, as it could hamper further investigations.
The Conditional Access System (CAS) facilities will now be extended to the suburbs next month. CAS is now available between Bandra and Colaba. Problems started after a large numbers of distributors have formed their own conglomerate under the Smart Cable Operator and Distributor 18 (SCOD 18) banner. They are now expanding their area of operations to Borivli, Goregaon, Kanjur-marg, Mulund, Navi Mumbai, Dahisar and Matunga.
The SCOD 18 expansion plans, with an estimated Rs 1,200 crore investment, has upset the business of three other service providers, who have been in the business since 20 years, informed Subhash Shah, a cable operator. The four main competitors now are In cable, Hathway, WWIL and SCOD 18.
4,500
Number of cable operators in Mumbai
