BHOPAL An administrative district magistrate in Madhya Pradesh's Guna district has sought the State government's permission to spend at least a month at the Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai, where notorious gangster Abu Salem is presently lodged.
Niyaz Khan, an officer of the State administrative services (SAS), wrote to the State government's general administration department (GAD) for a month's leave to stay at the Taloja Central Jail -- to pursue research work for his fiction novel, 'Love Demands Blood,' inspired by Abu Salem and actress Monica Bedi’s love story.
"It has already been a month since I made the request to the State government via the Guna district collector. Since the matter pertains staying at a jail outside MP, and one which houses the notorious gangster, could be why the clearance of my request could be taking time," said Khan.
The SAS officer who has been part of the Madhya Pradesh (MP) government for the last 20 years has written that to complete his crime thriller he needs to stay in the same jail as Abu Salem. His research will include key points including whether the gangster repents his alleged crimes, and whether he still treasures Monica Bedi and his love story, among other questions.
"I've already completed around 80 per cent of my novel which is not at all Salem's biography, but an action-packed crime thriller inspired by the love life of the gangster and Monica Bedi."
"The two prime characters of the novel, David Warner and Jenifer Lawrence vividly deal with how those living in the underworld not only commit crimes but can also fall in love. It will in no way glorify Abu Salem," Niyaz Khan told the New Indian Express on Thursday.
“Out of the 355 pages of the book, the matter for around 300 pages is already complete, but the key part can only be finalised after staying at Taloja Jail and researching on Abu Salem," said Khan.
Niyaz Khan, a native of Fatehpur district in Uttar Pradesh, says the sooner he gets the permission from the State government to stay at the jail at his own expense, the better and faster he will be able to complete his fifth book.
Since 2011, Khan has penned four books, starting with The Ocean of Bliss and also including Confessions at Black Grave, Untold Secrets of My Ashram and Destiny in Drugs.