Click to play videoMumbai: While many have been sentenced in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, a Shiv Sena MP who was carrying arms during the Mumbai riots of 1992-1993 was let off because of his political clout.
Former Mumbai police commissioner MN Singh confirmed and confessed to this on CNN-IBN's special show Mumbai Verdict.
Singh also admitted that the decision to let off Shiv Sena's Madhukar Sarpotdar was not taken by the police but at a higher level.
Here’s an excerpt from the chat with CNN-IBN Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai.
Rajdeep Sardesai: You did not show the same zeal with the Mumbai riots case as you did with the Mumbai blast case.
MN Singh: Let me tell you that I am not known for leaving the crooks and culprits.
Rajdeep Sardesai: Tell us the truth then.
MN Singh: You need to ask the people who left him. In Sarpotdar's case it was not the police, which dropped the case.
Rajdeep Sardesai: Who dropped it then?
MN Singh: I think it was at a decision taken at a different level not by the police.
Mahesh Bhatt: The nation Needs to hear that. A man of credibility, he has just said on air. Sanjay goes to jail, still rotting in Jail but Sarpotdar, who is caught with ammunition, nothing happens to him.
The exchange has confirmed the widespread belief that Sarpotdar detained under the National Security Act in 1993 was let off and not charged under TADA because of his political clout.
In the Justice Srikrishna report into the Mumbai riots, the judge had expressed surprise that Sarpotdar was not charged under TADA.
The judge had said: “There is a grievance made that because of Sarpotdar's clout he had the run of the police station. The Commission finds some substance in this argument in view of all the material brought on record.”
Responding to the charge that he had let his fellow Shiv Sainik off the hook, the then chief minister of Maharashtra Manohar Joshi told CNN- IBN on the show that there were crucial differences between Dutt's case and that of Sarpotdar.
"Action was taken and also some people were booked whether they belong to my party or other party. There were punishments given to them, so its not that the report was totally thrown out,” he said.
Singh’s admission also comes just two days after the Supreme Court questioned the manner in which the then state government rejected the findings of the Sri Krishna report into the 1992-1993 riots.
The court said it could order a re-investigation, an observation that has now led the Maharashtra government to say it is ready to re-open the case of Sarpotdar among others.
So while Sanjay Dutt is in jail under the Arms Act, Sena's Madhukar Sarpotdar charged under same act is a free man.
Will the law work equally for all? Will the findings of the Sri Krishna report be revived or buried? These are questions that have now returned to haunt the politicians.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.