26/11 fallout: Mumbai Crime Branch chief wants to quit

Mumbai, Nov 27 (ANI): Mumbai's Crime Branch Chief, Rakesh Maria has said he is ready to quit from his post over allegations in a book that he didn't do enough to provide security cover for slain senior cops Hemant Karakare, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar.

He has expressed a desire to meet Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil on the matter.

Maria is believed to have sought consent to counter allegations made against him in a book co-authored by Vinita Kamte, the wife of ACP Ashok Kamte who was shot dead on the night of the 26/11 terrorist attacks.

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

In her book titled 'To The Last Bullet', Vinita Kamte has alleged that Maria mishandled operations, causing the death of Kamte and his colleagues. She says her allegations are based on police logs that she won access to through the Right to Information Act.

Kamte says that after the attacks began, Hemant Karkare asked for reinforcements, but it took too 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. (ANI)