MCOCA: Delhi police’s tool against all crimes

The Delhi Police may have weapons like Glock-9 millimetres and MP-5 submachine guns in their arsenal, but the best weapon they have against the hardened criminals in the city is MCOCA.

The Delhi Police may have weapons like Glock-9 millimetres and MP-5 submachine guns in their arsenal, but the best weapon they have against the hardened criminals in the city is MCOCA.

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In 2010, the police arrested 27 people and prosecuted them under the strict Act that has left many criminals behind bars for a long time with no hopes of early bail. Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999, originally used by the government of Maharashtra to tackle rising organised crime in the state, was adopted by the Capital for the same.

“The Act makes special provisions for prevention and control of, and for coping with, criminal activity by organised crime syndicate or gang,” said a senior police officer.

According to police, till some time back the Act was used to just nab hardened criminals who had affiliations with gangs and had committed a spate of heinous crimes. But last year even snatchers were brought in the net of MCOCA.

“Any criminal booked under MCOCA cannot avail bail for at least six months. That is six months less of crimes in the city streets,” the officer added.

Delhi Police commissioner BK Gupta has on an earlier occasion said there would be special emphasis on identification and arrest of active criminals, effective use of stringent MCOCA.

The city police have also decided to use it against gangs who might not be lethal in their approach but are still a “menace to the society” at large.

“Last year a gang was caught in East District who used to hypnotise senior citizens and take away all their belongings. In that case we were planning to book them under MCOCA as there were a number of similar cases filed against them,” said the officer. Last year, the police also booked a number of human traffickers under the act.