Security continues to be lax at the BMC headquarters near CST, despite experts warning that it is a soft target for terror attacks.

On Wednesday, Congress corporator Aziz Abdul Barudgar allegedly managed to carry a gun inside the corporation house. The corporator from Santa Cruz was neither stopped nor questioned by security officials posted at the entry of the headquarters. Even the guards posted outside the corporation house on the first floor of the building did not stop him.

BMC rules disallow carrying a weapon inside the civic headquarters building without permission from senior authorities.

It was only after a news channel captured visuals of the gun kept in the back pocket of Barudgar's pants did the security personnel question him. Barudgar admitted that he had brought the weapon but denied having carried it inside the building. He told the security personnel that he handed over the licensed revolver to his bodyguard before he entered.

Senior Congress corporators came to his defence. Sameer Desai, corporator from Goregaon, claimed that Barudgar carried no weapon inside the house. Aslam Sheikh, from Malad, said the news channel had mistaken Barudgar's mobile for a gun.

Rajhans Singh, Congress leader in the BMC, said the party will inquire into the matter. Congress sources, however, confirmed that the corporator was carrying a gun.

Sandeep Ashar/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication