The iconic 117-year-old Crime Branch building located within the Mumbai Police Headquarters premises is set to be demolished this week, marking the end of an era for a structure that witnessed numerous pivotal moments in India's history.
The two-storey stone structure, constructed in 1908, has been declared unsafe by structural auditors and will be replaced by a modern six-storey facility. Demolition work is scheduled to begin after November 26, according to senior police officials.
A Century of Historical Significance
This historic building has served as the backdrop for numerous significant events spanning from the pre-Independence era to modern times. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was held here after his arrest on sedition charges by the British government, marking one of the earliest notable events associated with the structure.
More recently, the building hosted the interrogation of Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab, who was captured during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. "Kasab was kept in the building for almost three months as it was considered a safe place within the headquarters," revealed former Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria.
Interrogations of Notorious Figures
The building's interrogation rooms have seen some of India's most feared criminals and celebrities. Underworld dons including Chhota Rajan, Arun Gawli, Abu Salem, and Ejaz Lakdawala were all questioned within these walls.
Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt was interrogated here in connection with the 1993 serial blasts case, while actress Maria Susairaj and her boyfriend Lt Emile Jerome Mathew faced questioning for the Neeraj Grover murder case. The murder investigation of businessman Sunit Khatau was also successfully conducted within this building.
Former Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria expressed his emotional connection to the structure: "The building holds a unique status... It was my dream after joining the force to have an office in this iconic building. Whenever I used to come for weekly meetings at the headquarters in the 1980s, I would think of having an office in this building, which is synonymous with the Crime Branch."
Transition to Modern Facilities
The demolition comes as the Crime Branch faces severe space constraints. The new six-storey building will provide adequate space for various departments, including a CCTV monitoring centre, administrative branches, and meeting rooms.
Until the new building is ready, several offices will be temporarily relocated to the Bavla Compound in Chinchpokli and another newly constructed building within the headquarters premises. The affected departments include:
- Administration
- Enforcement
- Control Centre
- Statistics
- Intelligence
- Lock-up facilities
The building was originally constructed in 1908 to accommodate Haj pilgrims before being allocated to what was then known as the Greater Bombay Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (GBCB-CID) in 1909. This allocation followed the riots that occurred after Tilak's arrest.
Joint CP Lakhmi Gautam, the last officer to occupy the old building, recently moved out. He acknowledged the structure's legacy while looking forward to the future: "This building has witnessed many momentous occasions, including the Mumbai Police's fight against gangs and organized crime. Now it is being replaced by a modern, digitally equipped building, which will help the Mumbai Police serve citizens even better."
The demolition of this historic building marks the end of a significant chapter in Mumbai's police history while paving the way for enhanced modern policing infrastructure.
