MCA blinks first, Shetty meets Patnaik at HQ

Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik checkmated the Mumbai Cricket Association from dictating terms to the city police providing security to the World Cup Cricket matches at the Wankhede stadium by getting the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) Executive Secretary, Ratnakar Shetty to attend a meeting at the city police headquarters, last week.

In explicit words, Patnaik told Professor Shetty, who is also MCA treasurer, that the police have reviewed their decision to allow parking of vehicles on the Mumbai Police Gymkhana grounds and to find place elsewhere parking space for spectators to park their vehicles during the matches.

Patnaik, had sent across a clear message to MCA that the police will be providing security cover during the matches since it was abiding by the government's decision and not reporting to either MCA or BCCI. It is believed that Patnaik was irked by MCA's attitude on the eve of the first match when one of MCA official asked a middle- level police official to get Patanik to attend a review meeting on security for the matches.

Patnaik shot back at MCA through a middle- level official saying, " I don't report to MCA nor am I accountable to a cricket body, on security for the games. I will visit the Wankhede when I need to review the security management during the games and I don't see the need to meet MCA officials when I visit the stadium. Please ask the MCA officials to meet me in my office if they need to discuss on the security management during the games."

Finally, Shetty met Patnaik at the commissioner's office to discuss the security arrangements for the games and also to request him to re- consider the police's decision to revoke permission to park spectators vehicles at the Police Gymkhana grounds. However, Patanik did not concede to Professor Shetty's request.