Mumbai, Jan 3 (IANS) The Maharashtra government has ordered suspension of the five policemen caught partying with mafia dons in a private gymkhana club last week, a top official said Sunday.
The suspension follows a recommendation made by Mumbai Police Commissioner D. Shivanandan Saturday to the state government.

The police gathered sufficient evidence in the matter to merit recommending the suspension of the policemen, said the official.

Based on the recommendations of the city police chief, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan late Saturday ordered the suspension of the officers pending a departmental inquiry against them, the official told IANS.

The controversial party Christmas eve was thrown at a private gymkhana club in Chembur, a north-east Mumbai suburb in which the policemen were seen on video footage, drinking, dancing, eating and making merry with the mafia dons present there.

The gathering was ostensibly to celebrate the acquittal and release of D.K. Rao, a mafia don belonging to the Chhota Rajan gang, from 31 serious cases earlier last year.

The officers who were present at the party reportedly include: DCP Vishwas Salve, Assistant Commissioner of Police Prakash Wani, Senior Police Inspector R.S. Khakale, Crime Branch Inspector S. Khalatkar and assistant sub-inspector T. Salunkhe.

Video-clips of the party, telecast by Mumbai TV channels, showed them celebrating joyfully with the mafiosi even as a huge contingent of cops maintained law and order all over the city on Christmas eve.

Also said to be present at the party were other mafia-linked persons like Farid Tanasha and Sunil Potdar. A special guest was none other than Sujata Nikhalje, wife of don Chhota Rajan Nikhalje, who is addressed as ‘Nani’ by her husband’s henchmen.

According to the report submitted by the police headquarters to the state government, the cops have been suspended to set an example for the entire state police force.