Maharashtra: EC orders DGP Shukla’s transfer over Opposition complaints

Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls, the Election Commission on Monday (November 4) directed the state government to transfer DGP Rashmi Shukla with immediate effect following complaints from political parties, including the Congress, sources said.

The poll body directed the Maharashtra chief secretary to hand over Shukla's charge to the next senior-most IPS officer in the cadre. The chief secretary was also directed to send a panel of three IPS officers by Tuesday afternoon (November 5) for appointment as DGP, the sources said.

Maharashtra goes to the polls on November 20.

CEC warns officials to be impartial and fair

During a recent review meeting, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar warned officials to not only be impartial and fair but also ensure that they are perceived as non-partisan while carrying out their duties.

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The Opposition had alleged that DGP Shukla was biased towards the ruling Mahayuti alliance and that fair polls would not be possible if she was in the top post.

Allegations against DGP Rashmi Shukla

“There is a very serious allegation against the state’s Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla. In 2019, when our government was being formed, this Director General of Police, who was directly working for the Bharatiya Janata Party, was tapping all our phones and giving full information to Devendra Fadnavis about what we were going to do,” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut had told the media.

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“Can we expect her to conduct fair elections? We have said that the reins of elections should not be given to her, and then the Election Commission said that they do not have the right to transfer. How can this happen? At the same time, Jharkhand’s DGP was changed. Maharashtra’s election is being conducted based on police pressure,” said Sanjay Raut.

Congress’s letter to CEC

The state Congress chief Nana Patole had written to the Chief Election Commissioner, requesting the removal of Rashmi Shukla from the post of the state police chief.

“Over the past 20 days, political violence against opposition parties has significantly escalated, with a notable deterioration in the law-and-order situation. She has shown a clear bias against the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT, and NCP (SP), as evidenced by her previous record of illegal phone tapping of opposition leaders while serving as Commissioner of Police, Pune, and Commissioner of the State Intelligence Department,” read Patole’s letter.

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On October 29, Kumar had expressed concern over politically-motivated crimes in Maharashtra and asked DGP Shukla to ensure a strict clampdown on such incidents.

The recent killing of NCP leader Baba Siddique led to a political furore. He was shot dead by three gunmen in Bandra East on October 12.

Maharashtra will be going to the polls on November 20, and the counting of votes will happen on November 23.

(With agency inputs)