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The
public and the media may be in splits, but police are certainly not
amused at a Rajasthan shopkeeper's Prank - to pose as Abhishek Bachchan
and almost slip into Aishwarya Rai' s high-security apartment two days
before their starry wedding.
"The
Rais have not lodged any formal complaint with the police, we learnt
about the so-called prank from the media," said a senior police
official about Wednesday's incident when Devi Singh Purohit, 24, fooled
many into believing that he was Abhishek, the man Aishwarya is marrying
Friday.
"The matter will be looked into. But basically,
security at the complex is looked after by a private security agency.
We will ensure that such an incident is not repeated."
Purhohit,
dressed in jeans and a striped jacket, and a bouquet of roses in hand,
took the lift to the eighth floor of the high-security La Mer building
complex in suburban Bandra where the Bollywood actress lives. He was
about to walk into Aishwarya's apartment when a couple of alert
neighbours caught him.
The man from Jaisalmer had been propped
up by the Mid-Day newspaper, which had even hired a white Mercedes to
ferry the look-alike to the complex, where celebrities like cricketer
Sachin Tendulkar live.
The Rai family was not amused and immediately called the security at the gate.
"Besides
the private security guards at the complex, police personnel have also
been posted at the housing complex where the actress lives. Visitors
are being screened," said additional commissioner of police Bipin
Bihari.
At the wedding venue Prateeksha as well as the Bachchan's other bungalow in Juhu called Jalsa, security is very tight.
With
so much fanfare surrounding the megalopolis' biggest marriage, the
Bachchans are paying Mumbai policemen nearly Rs.10 million for keeping
the crowds of curious onlookers and media at bay and to throw a
protective ring around the celebrities who will grace the wedding.
"There
will be 227 policemen, including an assistant commissioner of police,
who will throw a security ring around two of the Bachchan bungalows -
Jalsa and Prateeksha," Bhihari told IANS.
Apart from the police, the Bachchans have private security guards for the wedding.
"As
the wedding is a private function, police personnel will not enter the
venue at Prateeksha. They will be posted at the gate and will guide
private security personnel hired by the Bachchans about screening and
frisking visitors. The police on duty at the venue have all been
provided copies of the entire list of invitees."
Police have also instructed Bachchan neighbours not to allow any outsiders into their homes for a look at the event.
"We
have conducted a survey of residents adjoining Prateeksha and advised
them to cooperate with us," the additional commissioner said.
Indo-Asian News Service
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