According to a senior police officer, it is possible that Vaida was specifically targetted by the Chhota Shakeel gang for his role in the '92-'93 riots and for which he was named in the Srikrishna report. Home Minister Gopinath Munde has already said that the attack on Vaidya was carried out to retaliate the killing of Majid Khan, a bomb blast accused and his two associates by the Chhota Rajan gang earlier this week.

The circular further mentions that if the police perceives the threat to their lives, real then they should be provided with security cover.

According to sources the circular was issued after Mumbai police received classified information from an intelligence agency that the Shakeel gang may target persons indicted in theSrikrishna Commission report. This is apparently being done to counter rival gangster Chhota Rajan who has been responsible for the recent attacks on several bomb blast accused.

In addition the Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde today transferred a Deputy Commissioner of Police, an Assistant Commissioner and suspended a senior inspector and two constables attached to the Mahim division where Vaidya lived.

According to police reports, DCP Ashok Dongre attached to Zone IV has been transferred to Reserve Police Training Centre at Jalna. Mahim Division ACP Ramesh Tayade has been transferred to a staff posting. Two persons have also been detained by the police for interrogation.

Senior police inspector V D Pawar attached to Mahim Police station has been suspended. Also suspended are two police gunmen Dinanath Pawar and Sandeep Waghmare, who were supposed to provide security cover to Vaidya. A decision to this effect was taken after Munde visited Vaidya's residence at Mori Road in Mahim his afternoon. Thehome secretary, who was accompanying the minister, was asked to take immediate action.