Police to bill Bachchans for security

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Police to bill Bachchans for security

Syed Firdaus Ashraf | April 18, 2007 14:16 IST

The Mumbai police have informed the Bachchans that all security arrangements required for the Aishwarya-Abhishek wedding will come at a cost, for which they would bill the family.

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The three-day function, which will see a host of celebrites attending, has already brought suburban Juhu's traffic to a halt and the police is on constant patrol to prevent any untoward incident.

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"We met Mr Amitabh Bachchan and told him that he will have to pay for the extra police deployed during the wedding," Senior Inspector Pradeep Shinde of the Juhu police station told rediff.com.

The police is keeping a 24-hour vigil around Bachchan's two Juhu bungalows -- Jalsa and Prateeksha -- where the event will take place. The two houses fall under the jurisdiction of the Juhu police station.

"Many important personalities are coming to the wedding, but still this is a private function and therefore we told Mr Bachchan he would be charged for the event," added Shinde.

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The politicians, who are expected to attend, include Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. The guest list also includes a host of businessmen like Anil Ambani and innumberable film stars.

Bachchan has verbally committed to pay the bill after the wedding.

Onlookers and fans of Ash-Abhishek are already doing the rounds to try and get a glimpse of the actors.

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Shinde did not reveal how many policemen would be posted at the venue, but said that policemen from all over Mumbai have been deployed to provide security. The police have also kept fire extingushers at bay as a safety precaution to prevent any uncalled disaster.

Caterers and workers at the venue have been issued special passes to enter the Bachchan homes.

The Bachchans have also hired private security guards who are posted at the gates. They have been instructed by the Bachchans that they should not be rude to the media, whatever the case may be.

A television reporter, in her enthusiasm, jumped the barricade and tried to speak one of the workers at Prateeksha. But the guard intervened politely.

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The traffic police are also getting ready for the traffic scene over the next two days. The traffic has been moving slow since morning, as fans have already gathered at the venue.

"Our department is coordinating with the traffic police. We are confident that this event will pass off peacefully," added Shinde.

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Photograph: N V Reuben