The way the government handled the transfer of senior IPS officer Rakesh Maria has baffled many in the Maharashtra administration and in political and police circles. Did no one think through the implications of the timing?
And why undermine Ahmed Javed by again giving Maria control of the Sheena Bora case? This was clearly a damage-control exercise in the face of criticism of, and speculation about, the timing of the government’s decision.
According to government sources, as the buzz grew about the change of the Mumbai police commissioner in the midst of the investigations into such a high-profile case, the minister of state (home) Ranjit Patil and the additional chief secretary KP Bakshi met to discuss how to handle it. They then called up chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, in Japan. Then came the decision to let Maria continue to oversee the investigations.
Sources in the government said Fadnavis had decided to transfer Maria as Mumbai police commissioner in June itself when it came to light that he had met former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi on a visit to London for an Interpol meeting in July last year. Fadnavis was not satisfied by Maria’s clarification.
“Fadnavis had asked the officer to submit documentary evidence to corroborate his claim that he had informed the then home minister, the late RR Patil, about the meeting. Maria had claimed that the meeting was important from the security point of view as Modi was to share vital information related to the underworld. However, Fadnavis was not fully convinced,” said a top official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
{{/usCountry}}“Fadnavis had asked the officer to submit documentary evidence to corroborate his claim that he had informed the then home minister, the late RR Patil, about the meeting. Maria had claimed that the meeting was important from the security point of view as Modi was to share vital information related to the underworld. However, Fadnavis was not fully convinced,” said a top official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
{{/usCountry}}However, this was the time when Congress-led opposition was gunning for external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje on the same issue. Removing Maria as Mumbai police chief would have given more ammunition to the Congress. As such, Fadnavis was asked to go slow by his bosses, said the sources.
The process to transfer Maria gained momentum after criticism from various quarters over his focus on the Sheena Bora murder case. However, what surprised many in the state administration was the timing: Was it necessary to shift Maria just three weeks before his transfer was due?
“The government did not want Maria to be in control of the charge sheet in the Sheena case. Further, Maria went on spending more time on the case even after Fadnavis’ public taunt. An angry Fadnavis wanted to send a strong signal to the police force that he as home minister was the final authority in handling policing matters,” said a top official.
Read More:
Maria shifted, new Mumbai top cop says will build strong Sheena case
New post is no star in super-achiever cop Rakesh Maria's CV