The Centre is likely to advice the Maharashtra government to book the persons involved in the killing of additional district collector Yashwant Sonawane, under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). In wake of the incident, the government is also planning a fresh relook at laws to provide more teeth to state departments and give protection to public servants.
The government’s move to ask Maharashtra government to invoke the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act on the accused comes following consultations with the ministries of law and home.
Offences tried under Maharashtra’s tough anti-organised crime act are punishable with death or imprisonment for life.
An official said that Sonawane’s killing has exposed the chinks in a system where the state government agencies need to be given more powers and public servants can operate under adequate cover and protection.
“A clear balance has to be worked out,” he said.
A way forward could be first by putting in place a mechanism to monitor state crimes by a dedicated division in the home ministry. And then there is a need to go back to the recommendations of the second Administrative Reforms Commission and the K. Padmanabhiah Committee on Police Reforms in light of the Sonawane incident, the official said.
Sonawane’s killing has evoked sharp reactions across Maharashtra with the state minister for public works department Chhagan Bhujbal calling for stringent action against the fuel adulteration mafia.
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1 held in Maha raid
age correspondent
Mumbai
Jan. 28: The Mumbai police’s crime branch control (food and drugs) unit conducted a raid on a godown in Kalina and seized over two lakh litres of black oil on Thursday night. Abdulgaffar Sheikh (55) was detained in the raid and later placed under arrest.
“The accused would bring the oil to the godown, where the adulteration process would take place. The adulterated oil would then be distributed in Mumbai and outside,” said Ansar Peerzade, senior police inspector, crime branch.