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Wedding bells ring a warning in Bombay

Syed Firdaus Ashraf in Bombay

"Hello, Dr Kamlesh Sharma [not his real name] hai kya (Is Dr Sharma there)?" asks the caller.

Who's speaking, asks a voice.

"Woh chhodo, aap mujhe batao ke yeh such hai ke doctor saab apni shaadi ek five-star hotel mein kar rahen hain? (Never mind that. Is it true he's getting married at a five-star hotel?)"

"Haan. Lekin aap kaun hain? (Yes, but who are you?)"

"Agar Dr Sharma zinda rehna chahte hain to unko bolo bhai ke wahan 50 peti (1 peti=Rs 100,000) pahuncha dein (If he wishes to live, tell him to send Rs 5 million to 'bhai')."

These are not scenes from a B-grade Hindi film, but the real-life story of a doctor who wanted to celebrate his marriage at a five-star hotel in Bombay. He abandoned the plan because of the threats.

Weddings in Bombay, which used to be great occasions until a couple of years ago, have also been hit by a recession following extortion threats.

Be it the elite Royal Western India Turf Club, the Taj and Oberoi hotels, or the various gymkhanas in south and north-west Bombay, all have seen a fall in business. And on several occasions, bookings for these venues have been cancelled because of "unavoidable circumstances".

Sajjad Jamani, manager of the Islam Gymkhana on Marine Drive, said, "Nearly five parties have booked our grounds and then cancelled the party due to 'unavoidable circumstances'. Now don't we know what these 'unavoidable circumstances' are?"

This year the gymkhana has hosted just 15 weddings, as against 40 last year.

Though the institution charges Rs 46,000 a day for its grounds, the charges for decoration and food and beverages come to a minimum Rs 500,000, said Jamani.

Managers at the five-star Taj Mahal Hotel refused to divulge any information about wedding parties. But one official told Rediff On The NeT that they "are no longer the grand functions they used to be. People prefer to have smaller parties now".

Similar is the story at the RWITC, the club that runs the Mahalaxmi race-course in south-central Bombay, one of the most expensive places in the city for a young couple to tie the knot. Just the cost of the ground for a non-member is about Rs 250,000 per diem. For members, the hiring charge is lower at Rs 80,000.

"Our business has fallen 30 per cent. It seems people don't want to risk their lives by having a grand celebration. People say to have a grand wedding celebration is to invite trouble from extortionists," said an RWITC manager who wished to remain anonymous.

Like Jamani, he said cancellations and shifting of venues have become common.

Yet, the Bombay police are issuing regular advertisements in newspapers asking people not to worry about extortion threats and to contact the nearest anti-extortion cell. One release said:

Newspapers have recently been reporting that there is a general fear of threat from extortionists in the city and because of this many people have cancelled their wedding receptions. It is being reported that these people apprehend that gangsters would give them calls and hence in anticipation these people have cancelled their wedding receptions in various lawns, clubs etc.

In this connection it is worth mentioning that the interest of all those who had come to the police have been safeguarded. On the other hand, the victims of extortions were those who had not come to the police seeking their support. Hence, it is appealed to the citizens of Mumbai that in case of any apprehension regarding the arrangement of reception for wedding and other celebrations, please do contact extortion cells .

Yet, the police insist there has been no downtrend in the wedding business because of extortion threats. Senior Inspector Pradeep D Shinde, the officer in charge of the anti-extortion cell at the police headquarters, said, "We have only received one complaint of a wedding extortion threat. So it is wrong to say that marriages are not happening in a grand way in the city because of the extortion threat. Why don't you see that there are other reasons like the recession?"

The police claim to have played a pro-active role in dealing with the extortionists. Till date they have detained 270 anti-social elements, including gangsters and extortionists, in an attempt to prevent major crimes. Some 33 criminals have been killed in encounters. The police have also laid traps and arrested about 500 extortionists. Every day, at least two firearms are being recovered from criminals.

"Eighty-five per cent of extortion cases are fake as there are no serious criminals involved. Yet there is a fear psychosis. And journalists too highlight the news in such a way that people have become fearful," argued Inspector Shinde.

The police say people must come forward and register complaints instead of giving in to the extortionists. "We have solved 90 per cent of the extortion cases which have been registered. The remaining 10 per cent we are unable to solve because the gangsters are operating from abroad and India does not have extradition treaties with those countries," Inspector Shinde said.

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