RTI query reveals that police are yet to receive money for providing security at six ICC World T20 Cup matches held in Mumbai in March from Mumbai Cricket Association
A Right to Information (RTI) query has revealed that the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) owes around Rs 3.6 crore to the Mumbai police for providing security during the cricket matches, which happened in March this year. Around six cricket matches of the ICC World T20 Cup had taken place in the city, and the Mumbai police had charged around R60 lakh per match.
Anil Galgali
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Incidentally, only after RTI applicant Anil Galgali filed an application on June 20, the Mumbai police realised that the MCA owed them money.
DCP (operations) Ashok Dudhe of the Mumbai police immediately addr-essed a letter to the DCP (local arms), asking him to recover R3.6 crore from the MCA and deposit it with the Maharashtra Police Housing and Welfare Corporation.
In March, six matches — New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, New Zealand vs England, India vs South Africa, West Indies vs England, South Africa vs England, South Africa vs West Indies and India vs West Indies — had taken place in the city. The Mumbai police provided security for all these matches, and accordingly, the MCA was billed Rs 3.6 crore.
"But despite such a huge bill, neither did the MCA bother paying the bill, nor did the Mumbai police try following it up," said RTI activist Galgali. "The money has been due since the last four months. The Mumbai police only woke up after the RTI query and wrote a letter to the MCA, to recover the amount. But, nobody knows when they will receive the amount," said Galgali.
When mid-day contacted Umesh Khanvilkar, joint secretary, MCA, he confirmed that the association had received a letter from the Mumbai police. "We will be carrying out a managing committee meeting on July 30, where the issue will be discussed. It’s already included in the agenda," he said.
According to Galgali, as per the rules, the Mumbai police should have collected the security fee in advance. "Is the Mumbai police afraid to push for the amount because senior leaders like Sharad Pawar and Ashish Shelar are part of the MCA?" Galgali asked.
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