By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Mumbai: In an unexpected hurried decision in the midst of the Sheena Bora murder probe, Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria is today shunted and posted as the Director General of Police (Home Guards) while DG-rank officer Ahmad Javed is made the police chief of Mumbai.
Ahmad Javed (Photo Credit: http://newsr.in)
Ahmad Javed, a 1980 batch IPS officer took immediate charge as the new Mumbai police commissioner on Tuesday. He was earlier DG Home Gaurds -a post not considered important -now occupied by Maria.
Maria was much in the news these days due to Mumbai Police’s ongoing investigations in the Sheena Bora murder case. Maria shared a close friendship with Peter Mukerjee, whose wife Indrani has been arrested by Mumbai Police in connection with her daughter’s murder case.
Although Maria’s transfer was due on September 30 but his sudden transfer with immediate effect is being viewed as instigated due to his proximity with Mukerjee.
However, the Home Department held the changes were made taking into account the law and order factor ahead of the Ganapati festival, dismissing suggestions that that it has some links with the ongoing investigation in the high-profile murder case.
“There was no hurry in transferring Maria. It would have been inappropriate to transfer him on September 30, in the middle of the festive season as Ganapati festival, a very important event in Maharashtra would be on at that time. Therefore, we decided to advance the promotion of Maria,” Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K P Bakshi said.
Javed have earlier held the position of commissioner of Navi Mumbai too and hence has capabilities to supervise police department in the metro.
He is senior to Maria but as Maria held proximity with Nationalist Congress Party, he had superseded Javed to become Mumbai’s Commissioner of Police in February 2014 when NCP and Congress were in power.
Javed had termed Maria’s appointment of Mumbai commissioner as unjust because he was the top contender for the post considering his seniority to Maria and as a protest he had gone on leaves after the announcement in early 2014.
Now that Javed has taken charge his main challenge would be to ensure that the festive season which is underway passes by peacefully. He is due for retirement in January 2016 but may get extension if he pleases state home department.