July 14: On the eve of the visit of Union Home Minister Indrajit Gupta to assess the law and order situation on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde today admitted that there was dereliction of duty on the part of the police officials deployed at the residence of senior Congress leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and Madhukar Pichad.``It is true that they failed in their task to stop the Shiv Sena workers, who ransacked the official residence of Bhujbal and Pichad. "I have asked Commissioner of Police, S C Malhotra, to fix the responsibility and submit a report at the earliest,'' Munde told media persons at the council hall.The Deputy Chief Minister said that while additional security has been provided to both Bhujbal and Pichad, stern action will be taken against the erring police officials.Besides inquiry against the officials, Malhotra has also been asked to probe into the fact as to how Sena workers gathered near Mantralaya in such large numbers, despite prohibitory orders under Section 37 of the Bombay Police Act.He also said that he will look into the matter if the Shiv Sena workers were hiding at the residence of Labour Minister, Sabir Shaikh and the Minister of state for Irrigation, Gulabrao Gawande.Asked if he will shunt the Commissioner of Police on the ground that the incident took place despite prohibitory orders around Mantralaya and specific information about the attack that was received by him, Munde replied that there was no proposal to shift efficient officials. ``Malhotra is one of the most efficient officials with the Mumbai police and there is no need to transfer him,'' he said.He stated that so far 38 persons have been booked and non-bailable offences under different sections of the Indian Penal Code have been registered against them. ``No one will be spared, whether he is Member of Parliament, legislator or a councillor,'' he added.Munde declined to comment on the failure of the police to book prominent Shiv Sena leaders, saying he will be making a comprehensive statement on the attack on Bhujbal and Pichad in both the houses of the state legislature tomorrow. On the demand of the Congress that offence of attempt to murder should be registered against the Sena workers, Munde said the commissioner of police has been asked to examine the demand.On the visit of Union Home Minister Indrajit Gupta, Gopinath Munde commented that though the visit has been confirmed his government was yet to receive his official programme. ``I will meet Gupta to brief him about the law and order situation in the state, particularly the metropolis,'' he added.
