By IANS,
Gandhinagar : Shivanand Jha, additional director general of police (ADG) and a member of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the post-Godhra riots, has taken over as Surat city police commissioner after incumbent Deepak Swarup was transferred over his alleged disparaging remarks about a 17-year-old gang rape victim.
The state home department issued transfer orders to Swarup late Saturday night and immediately offered the charge of Surat city to Shivanand Jha, who took over the same night.
Swarup’s transfer was due to the remarks made by him to the media that the girl, who was gang raped Friday, succumbed to the demands of the three accused men as they had found her in compromising position with her friend, a top official said Sunday.
The remarks led to widespread protests in Surat leading to Swarup’s transfer. He was handed over the orders late Saturday night when he was hosting a party at home entertaining the prominent people of the city. The former police commissioner’s new posting is yet to be announced by the state government.
Jha now has the dual responsibility of looking after law and order in Surat besides his involvement with the post-Godhra riots probe as he is a member of the Supreme Court appointed SIT in Gujarat, the official said.
The tough image of Jha in policing prompted the Gujarat government to give him additional charge of Surat city.