In a significant development ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Sanjay Kumar Verma has been appointed as the new Director General of Police (DGP) of the state. Verma, a 1990-batch IPS officer, takes over from Rashmi Shukla, who was removed from the position by the Election Commission of India (ECI) following allegations of phone tapping.
Verma, currently serving as Director General – Legal and Technical, has a distinguished career in the Indian Police Service. He is known for his leadership, having headed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that probed the 2015 killing of communist leader and rationalist Govind Pansare. His appointment comes at a crucial juncture, with the Maharashtra Assembly elections set to be held in November 2023.
The controversy surrounding Shukla’s removal stemmed from allegations of illegal phone tapping of several Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders while she was the chief of the State Intelligence Department (SID). Although three cases were registered in connection with the alleged phone tapping, and Shukla was named in two of them, both FIRs were quashed by the Bombay High Court in September 2023. The third case, investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), also did not reach any conclusive findings, leading to a closure report being submitted before the court.
Despite the legal proceedings, the Congress party, a member of the MVA alliance, had approached the Election Commission, demanding Shukla’s transfer citing her alleged involvement in the phone tapping scandal. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole argued that Shukla’s continued presence as DGP would cast doubt on the fairness and transparency of the upcoming elections, alleging her bias towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Responding to the allegations, the ECI took immediate action. They directed the Maharashtra chief secretary to remove Shukla from her post and to submit a panel of three IPS officers for consideration as the new DGP. After reviewing the panel, the ECI approved Verma’s appointment, which was subsequently confirmed by the state government.
The Election Commission’s decision to remove Shukla and appoint Verma as the new DGP underscores the importance of maintaining public confidence in the electoral process. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar emphasized the need for officials to not only be impartial and fair but also to be perceived as non-partisan while carrying out their duties.
Verma’s appointment as the new DGP of Maharashtra is a significant development, especially in the context of the upcoming assembly elections. As he takes charge, he faces the challenge of ensuring the smooth conduct of the polls and maintaining law and order in the state. It remains to be seen how Verma will navigate the complex political landscape and ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
