26/11 Allegations: Mumbai Crime Brach Chief Wants to Step down

Following allegations in a book written by a slain cop’s widow, Mumbai’s Crime Brach Chief Rakesh Maria has said that he is prepared to step down from his post and expressed desire to meet Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil on the matter.

The book ‘To the Last Bullet’ co-authored by Vinita Kamte, widow of Ashok Kamte, alleged that Maria didn’t do enough to provide security cover for slain senior cops Hemant Karakare, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar.

Maria is believed to have sought consent to counter allegations made against him in a book.

Maria was in charge of the police control room that night, when ACP Ashok Kamte, encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar and Anti-Terror Squad Chief Hemant Karakare asked for additional cover to counter the terrorists near Cama Hospital.

In the book, Vinita has alleged that Maria mishandled operations, which led to death of Kamte and his colleagues. She said that her allegations are grounded on police logs which she accessed through Right to Information Act.

According to her, following attacks, Hemant Karkare asked for reinforcement, but it took to long to arrive. She also says that Maria diverted her husband to Cama Hospital from the Trident, where he was headed.

The Kamte vs Maria verbal war comes after reported differences were aired about the Mumbai Police