Mumbai police diary: ACB sets up fireproof strongroom to secure precious documents

Learning from the fire that engulfed the state secretariat building in June 2012, during which files of important cases were gutted, the ACB has secured its strongroom by making it fireproof. However, that is not the only measure taken by the ACB, the room is also under CCTV cover with the feed monitored 24×7 by dedicated teams on a rotational basis.

[related-post]

“ACB cases are based on documents and therefore they were required to be secured. In cases which involve senior politicians, the stakes become higher and any goof-up by the agency will only benefit the accused and therefore a decision to a secure strongroom for files was taken,” a senior official from the agency told The Indian Express.

Currently, the agency is probing a few high profiles involving senior politicians like former deputy chief ministers, Ajit Pawar and Chhagan Bhujbal and another senior NCP leader Sunil Tatkare.

Bhujbal is being probed in the multi-core Maharashtra Sadan construction scam. He along with his nephew Samir Bhujbal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money-laundering case registered by the central agency. Both the Bhujbals are currently lodged at Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail. On the other hand, Pawar and Tatkare are being investigated for their alleged role in the irrigation scam.

“Both the cases are sensitive in nature and they are document-based. Therefore, all the cases papers have been kept in the strongroom.

Tomorrow, if a fire breaks out in the office, we won’t be accused of deliberately causing a sabotage as the papers are now secured in the strongroom,” added the official.

In order to ensure that access to these documents are monitored, the agency is maintaining a logbook of people visiting the room. Every official, including the state ACB chief, has to be accompanied with the investigation officer of the respective case while visiting the strongroom.

“The investigation officer, who is in charge of a particular case, has the power to visit the strongroom but he too has to provide his entry and exit details. However, other officials, including the senior officers, are not allowed to enter the room alone and are required to be accompanied with the IO. This is to ensure that there is no allegation of high-handiness,” explained another official.

While the agency has set up the strongroom in Mumbai, it now plans to emulate its initiative in other important branches, including Nashik, Thane and Pune.

WATCH INDIAN EXPRESS VIDEOS HERE