Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday came down heavily on Maharashtra government for failing to initiate steps to recover dues for police protection provided to VIPs including politicians and celebrities and said it was showing a very "calluous and careless" attitude on the issue.

It sought a report from the government on what progress it has made towards recovering the dues. A division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice G S Kulkarni was hearing a public interest litigation filed by city resident Sunny Punamiya seeking direction to state police to recover dues from VIPs including politicians who have been provided security cover but have not paid till date.