Assembly stalled over Top cop’s suspension

The Maharashtra government’s decision to suspend a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Ashok Deshbhratar, caused a big storm in the Legislative Assembly on Monday.

The Maharashtra government’s decision to suspend a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Ashok Deshbhratar, caused a big storm in the Legislative Assembly on Monday.

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Deshbhratar, currently the deputy commissioner of railways, had carried out a “sting operation” and claimed to have exposed a nexus between Pune businessman Hasan Ali and several politicians,

Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Devendra Fadnavis informed the house about the suspension and asked home minister RR Patil to confirm it. When the state did not clarify, the Opposition stalled the proceedings.

Although Patil is expected to make a statement on Tuesday, sources close to him said Deshbhratar could be suspended soon. “A police inquiry proves that the CD he [Deshbhratar] made was fake,” a source said.

Fadnavis alleged that the officer was suspended because he had asked for permission to intervene in a case against Ali in the Supreme Court. Eknath Khadse, Opposition leader in the assembly, said “He helped the ED in getting Ali’s custody. This is injustice against a Dalit officer who is trying to help the country.”