AGENCIES
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole has written to the Election Commission seeking immediate removal of Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla, saying such a step is necessary to ensure the ensuing assembly polls are conducted in a fair and free manner.
In a letter to the EC dated September 24, he alleged the 1988-batch IPS officer has been given illegal extension to the top post by the Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP-led Mahayuti government.
“The issue pertains to the illegal extension and misuse of power by Rashmi Shukla, currently holding the position of Director General of Police (DGP), Maharashtra, along with the additional charge of Director General in charge of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
“Rashmi Shukla was due to retire on 30th June 2024, upon reaching the age of superannuation. However, she has been illegally granted an extension until January 2026, in direct violation of the Maharashtra Police Act, which stipulates that the DGP shall have a term of two years or until their retirement, whichever is earlier,” Patole pointed out. Shukla was appointed the state police chief in January 2024.
In addition to this unlawful extension, Shukla has a history of engaging in “illegal activities” that raise serious concerns about her impartiality and ability to perform her duties with integrity, the Congress legislator alleged in the letter. He claimed the top IPS officer has been involved in illegal tapping of opposition leaders' phones, misleading competent authorities in the process.
Several cases were registered against her, but they were shelved following the change of government in Maharashtra with the BJP coming into power (in June 2022 in alliance with Shiv Sena), maintained the MPCC president.
“During her tenure as the DGP, she has actively misused her position to harass and threaten opposition leaders, often generating false inquiries and registering baseless cases against them. She has acted as a political campaigner for the BJP, compromising the integrity and non-partisan nature of her role as a senior police officer,” Patole claimed.
As the DG in-charge of the ACB, Shukla has summoned opposition party leaders and members to police stations and offices of the anti-graft agency, using her powers to coerce and intimidate them, the Congress leader alleged.
“She has aligned the State Intelligence Department (SID) with the interests of the BJP, a trend observed during her previous tenure as Commissioner of SID. Given the above instances of political bias, misuse of government machinery, and illegal activities, it is impossible to ensure a fair and impartial environment for the upcoming elections in Maharashtra while Shukla continues to hold power over the state police,” he emphasised.
