dons not tough nuts to crack

Nov 24, 2005

Dons are not tough nuts to crack

BY MRITYUNJAY BOSE

MUMBAI: Name a don and its chills the spine of many. But dons actuallyare not tough nuts to crack. The issue of interrogation and torturehas come into focus once again with extradited underworld don and 1993serial blast accused Abu Salem expressing apprehensions that theMumbai Police may torture him in their custody.

"Yeh saab log chuha (rats) hai….bahut darte hai," a senior servingIPS officer, who has tackled the menace of organised crime told theHerald yesterday. "Marne ki zarurat hi nahi padti. One slap is enoughto make dons speak. They not only speak they startsinging…third-degree ka to sawal hi nahin utha," the high-profileofficer -- whose character was essayed in a film -- said wishinganonymity.

The reasons are one too many: these mafia dons have most of the timesescaped the police barring for some cases – when they are arrested forpetty crime. "Most of the times they are in AC comforts, luxuriouscars, clothes that are fashion statement and expensive watches, ringsand sun-glasses," he said and added that they are not aware of theground realities.

Asked about the apprehensions made by Salem that he fears torture byMumbai Police, the officer said: "Yeh saab bolne ki baat hai. Theseare also fed by defence lawyers asking them to say in court."Moreover, he pointed out that there is mandatory health check-up every48 hours as per Supreme Court guideline. In Salem's case, he pointedout that the court has allowed his lawyers to meet him in the morningfor every 15 minutes. Even while in CBI custody, he was allowed legalinterview every alternate day.

Former Mumbai Joint Commissioner Y C Pawar, who is credited withcracking the backbone of Vardabhai gang, said: "Interrogation is allabout skills and tactics." He recalled that in a robbery case – hesought the custody of two accused – who were already in judicialcustody in some other case. "The court allowed us to interrogate themfrom 11 am to 5 pm. We were prepared and we did our homework. In 21days, we solved a robbery case, which was a major one in the earlyseventies," Pawar told the Herald when contacted.

In fact, officers are trained in crime detection. "With minimum efforts (read force) one should be able to extract themaximum," another officer said.

Former Mumbai Police chief M N Singh said that investigation iscombination of "art and science".

As far as high-profile "VVIP criminals" are concerned, says formerIPS officer-turned-legal expert Y P Singh, there is unlikely thatforce is used. "Abu Salem case has attracted too much media attention.In such cases, force would not be used as the cops are extra careful,"he said.

Giving a legal perspective, he said: "Confession haveto be voluntarily. One cannot use force." But an IPS officer said thatin high-profile cases, the methods are simple: don't allow an accusedto sleep – he will start speaking the truth. In white-collar crimes, Singh said: "Everything is in black andwhite. You have to study the documents and ask questions. It is simple, but lot of homework, study and backgrounding is required."Another form is to give them repeated questionnaire, another officersuggested. Sums up an officer: "When we were taught officering, wewere taught about patience. And it work wonders."

(This report first appeared in The Maharashtra Herald, Pune)

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