Rajeev Kumar reinstated as Kolkata Police chief after Mamata’s return

The move to reinstate Rajeev Kumar as the city’s top cop comes two days after the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress stormed back to power, winning 211 of the 294 assembly seats.

Senior IPS officer Rajeev Kumar, who was removed as the Kolkata police commissioner by the Election Commission during the West Bengal assembly polls, was reinstated to the post, a state government official said on Saturday.

Senior IPS officer Rajeev Kumar was removed as Kolkata Police commissioner by the election commission for allegedly favouring the Trinamool Congress.

The move to reinstate Kumar as the city’s top cop comes two days after the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress stormed back to power, winning 211 of the 294 assembly seats.

Following directions by the Election Commission, Kumar was replaced by Soumen Mitra on April 12. Mitra will now be taking over as the additional director general, training.

Kumar’s removal had come following persistent calls by the opposition parties alleging he was working in favour of the ruling Trinamool.

Trinamool supremo and Chief Minister Banerjee had repeatedly attacked the poll panel for transferring a host of police officers, including Kumar, during the six-stage assembly polls.