No irregularity in purchase of bulletproof jackets: Court

The controversy over the substandard quality of bulletproof jackets bought by the city police force in 2001 has finally been put to rest.

The controversy over the substandard quality of bulletproof jackets bought by the city police force in 2001 has finally been put to rest.

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A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice SC Dharmadhikari of the Bombay High Court found no irregularity in the purchase of the bulletproof jackets and dismissed the public interest litigation.

Petitioner Santosh Daundkar had sought an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in the purchase of the jackets after Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare, who was wearing a bulletproof jacket, was killed during the terror attacks on the night of November 26, 2008.

He alleged that the purported corruption in the purchase of the vests had resulted in "Karkare's untimely death".

The consignment was supplied to the police force in March 2004.

His counsel, YP Singh, had pointed out that the deal was approved ignoring adverse reports from senior officers who had tested sample jackets on firing ranges and the entire amount was paid in advance on oral directions of then commissioner of police.

The state government denied the allegations.

Advocate General Ravi Kadam argued that jackets were, in fact, "not supposed to provide safeguard" against bullets fired from AK-47 rifles and 7.62 MM SLRs.