MUMBAI: The state government has approached the Centre to waive the Rs 19.28 crore bill slapped on it by the Indo-Tibetan Police (ITBP) for guarding 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab, lodged in Arthur Road Jail.

“The attacks on Mumbai were a terrorist attack on the nation. Since the attack was on the entire country, the Union government and the state government should take up the responsibility to guard the lone Pakistani terrorist caught alive during the attack. The home department has written a letter to the Union government on the issue, asking the Government of India to waive the bill that ITBP has footed towards security of Kasab,” home minister R R Patil said in the state legislative council on Wednesday. Patil was replying to a calling attention motion raised by Ramdas Kadam of the Shiv Sena. Kadam raised the issue of overcrowded jails in the state and sought information on how much the state is spending to guard Kasab.

Patil said that till date, Rs 34,975 has been spent on food, Rs 1.22 lakh for officials and other staff, and Rs 28,066 on medicine for Kasab. Similarly, for setting up a special jail, the government had to spend Rs 5.25 crore. “The cost for deployment of central (ITBP) forces has been Rs 19.28 crore,” Patil added.

Jayant Patil (PWP) asked the government to explain the news report that stated that six special cooks were deployed for Kasab. Patil replied, “No such special cook has been deployed for Kasab. The food served to Kasab is similar to what is served to ordinary prisoners,” Patil added.