There are three sets of records of the same call log from the police control room, reveals RTI filed by Vinita Kamte. This prompted the state CIC to direct the Additional Home Secretary to conduct a probe, pinpoint individuals responsible and submit a report by 10th June on the alleged tampering into call log records during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack

Bad enough that call log records procured under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, of 26 and 27 November 2011, showed non-communication between the Police Control Room and the three officers on Ground Zero, which probably led to their killing by the terrorists. Vinita Kamte, wife Ashok Kamte, the Additional Commissioner of Police who was killed in the Mumbai terror attack, procured these records using the Right to Information (RTI).
 

Now it is mysterious case of three sets of the same call log records of the South Control Room, Mumbai, including the one submitted in the charge sheet, which show three different timings, handwriting and contents of the Cama Hospital incident of 26/11. So, which one is the true and original? In order to find out the truth, Vinita had filed an appeal to State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC) of Maharashtra.
 

Last fortnight, SCIC Ratnakar Gaikwad gave a stern order asking the Additional HomeSecretary to carry out a probe. He stated that since this information relates to the applicant’s husband who is a martyr of the 26/11 terror attack, any discrepancy in information is a serious matter. Hence, it should be thoroughly probed and individuals pinned down in case there indeed has been tampering of the documents.
 

Gaikwad, in his order stated that the hearing of Vinita Kamte’s appeal was to be held on 11 March 2013 but due to the absence of the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Mumbai Police and Additional Commissioner, the hearing was postponed. Finally, it was heard on 24^th April wherein PIO Phansalkar and Additional Police Commissioner (Administration) ND Pawar were present. Vinita Kamte too was present. Pawar stated during the hearing that he was unable to answer as to why there is discrepancy in information in the three sets of the same call log records.
 

Gaikwad then ruled that in order to establish that the information given to Vinita is not with any ulterior motive, malicious and deliberate, it merits an investigation into whether there has indeed been tampering of records. For this, the Additional Home Secretary should conduct a probe and pinpoint the individuals responsible for it, in case it has been established that there is a difference in the information given.  Additional Secretary, Home was asked to submit the probe report on 20^th May but he has bought time. Now, the deadline has been extended to 10^th June.
 

According to reliable sources, the Additional Home Secretary’s office is in a tizzy and is trying its best to defend itself by proving that the call log records cannot be tampered with. However, since the three different sets of documents given by the Mumbai Police are certified copies given under RTI to Vinita, it would be interesting to see how it is going to tackle it and come out clean.
 

Curiously, it is the the call log records pertaining to the Cama Hospital episode only in which ATS Chief Hemant Karkare, Additional Commissioner for Eastern Region, Ashok Kamte and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar were killed, the ones where you can see the brazen difference of timings (see the scanned document).  Vinita said she was awaiting the completion of terrorist Kasab’s case to bring out this discrepancy in public and so has raked it up with the SCIC, only after his hanging.
 

Vinita Kamte in her second appeal states, “Since both the call log records pertain to the same channel i.e South Channel, there ought not to have been any difference between the two copies and both ought to have been the identical copies of the original call log register. However, the copies of both the said call log records received by me on 5 November 2009 and 18 February 2010 for the period from 26 November 2008 to 27 November 2008 differ in writing and in timings and in contents therein. In view of the aforesaid material discrepancies the respondents (Mumbai Police) ought to state as to which out of the said two documents (two call log records) furnished to me under the Right to Information Act, is the authentic one. It is thus evident that the public information officers, knowingly gave incorrect and misleading information to me and it is in these circumstances, that I have lodged the present complaint.”
 

“It is submitted that prior to furnishing me with the information under the Right to Information Act, the said call log record of the South region was already included in the charge-sheet filed in the criminal case (Ajmal Qasab’s Case) …after coming to know that the call log records have been included in the charge-sheet, I obtained the copy of the call log records included in the charge-sheet… When the call log records included in the charge-sheet was compared with the said two copies of call log records received by me, I was shocked to note that there was a considerable difference in respect of the timings and the events even in the call log records included in the Charge sheet and the two sets received by me.”
 

States Vinita, “Why should there be discrepancy in the timings of the Cama HospitalIncident? Was the ineptitude or mistakes committed by those manning the Control Room being covered? Are officers who tried to run away or who did not respond being shielded? There are serious questions that need to be answered. What were the reasons to tamper with the timings, if it was done?  Thorough inquiry needs to be conducted in this matter. I hope this matter is taken with the seriousness it deserves. I had kept quiet, keeping in mind the larger interest of the country, however, now that the hanging of kasab is over, we need answers to our questions.”
 

Vinita’s demand with the SCIC: • It is submitted that the respondents be put to strict notice to explain and state which of the three call log records produced by them is authentic and correct. It is incomprehensible as to how there could be three different records which differ in timings and incidents/acts • It is further submitted that in the facts and circumstances of the present case it is necessary to inquire and investigate and fix the persons responsible for creating false records and for producing / furnishing false call log records to me and for initiating appropriate action against all such concerned persons • The Mumbai Police be directed to produce the original call log records • In the facts and circumstances stated hereinabove be pleased to take appropriate action against all the erring officers for creating and furnishing false call log records to me.

 

(Vinita Deshmukh is the consulting editor of Moneylife, an RTI activist and convener of the Pune Metro Jagruti Abhiyaan. She is the recipient of prestigious awards like the Statesman Award for Rural Reporting which she won twice in 1998 and 2005 and the Chameli Devi Jain award for outstanding media person for her investigation series on Dow Chemicals. She co-authored the book “To The Last Bullet - The Inspiring Story of A Braveheart - Ashok Kamte” with Vinita Kamte and is the author of “The Mighty Fall”.)