MUMBAI: Reliance Industries head Mukesh Ambani 's representatives are believed to have approached the BMC seeking permission for a police chowky at Antilia , the industrialist's skyscraper residence on Altamont Road .The reason is a letter, purportedly by the banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen , delivered to Ambani's office in February threatening harm to the building.

BMC commissioner Sitaram Kunte told TOI, "I have received a letter through the Mumbai police commissioner about it.” But Satya Pal Singh, the commissioner, said that if a chowky was constructed, it would be for the entire road. "Our policemen have been posted there for bandobast for a few years now. In monsoon, they don't have a place (to avoid the rains) and even for using a washroom, they have to go to nearby areas.”

To make a chowky on the building's premises, the police need to give reasons to the government and need its permission. Also, the BMC needs to grant more FSI if it finds that the original FSI for the building was used up.

Nevertheless, the police commissioner said that if the Ambanis gave a place, "we will start a temporary chowky.” A source said that if a chowky was sanctioned for Antilia, the police would not have to construct it and "it will be financed by the Ambanis”.

Terror threat

On February 24, Mukesh Ambani's office in Maker Chambers IV, Nariman Point, received a letter that threatened to harm him and Antilia for his support to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi (the allusion being to the 2002 riots) and for investing in the state. Security at Antilia and Ambani's office building was beefed up. The handwritten letter allegedly came from Indian Mujahideen, but did not carry the group's trademark signature or logo. The crime branch is yet to crack the mystery.