In its letter, the Mumbai police has stated that since the high security Arthur Road prison in Mumbai is overcrowded, heavy deployment of security personnel has to be arranged. So far, million of rupees have been spent on the security of Qasab, but considering the future security problems, it is not advisable to keep Qasab in the Mumbai prison, the letter added.

According to the new town planning layout for Mumbai, a monorail project, the monorail would cross from opposite the Arthur Road prison. Apart the monorail towers would also have to be erected across the prison campus. Therefore the police have expressed their fears that keeping high risk prisoners like Qasab in the Mumbai prison is insecure and would likely be a threat to his life as well of other prisoners.

Himanshu Roy, the Mumbai Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy said: “ We have sent our recommendations of moving Qasab to Pune to the state.”

The Mumbai police in their letter to the state home department has also stated that the egg shaped lone confinement cell in Yerawada prison in Pune is presently vacant and Qasab can be moved there.

Even though Qasab’s appeal against his death sentence is being heard in the Mumbai high court, still his testimony would be heard by the judges through video-conferencing from Pune for which his physical presence in Mumbai would not be required, said a prison official.