The former Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh, who quit the force to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, tried to get a promotion to the post of Director General of Police (DGP) before the State government accepted his resignation, sources said.
Mr. Singh, who resigned from the post of Commissioner on January 30, was an Additional Director-General and was due for a promotion.
Sources said Mr. Singh made the State Home Department put up a recommendation to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to elevate him to the rank of DGP before accepting his resignation. But Mr. Chavan refused to do so.
“Mr. Singh wanted to resign as DGP for the rank and perks it offers, but when the Chief Minister learnt that he had plans to contest the election on BJP ticket, he refused to elevate him,” sources said.
“While the NCP did plead Mr. Singh’s case before the Chief Minister, Mr. Chavan was not convinced and stuck to his stand,” the sources added.
The Home Department is yet to accept the resignation of another IPS officer Prem Kishan Jain, who “resigned” as Additional Director-General, Special Operations, last week. Mr. Jain too plans to join the BJP.
“The NCP acted fast in the case of Mr. Satyapal Singh and forwarded his resignation letter to the Chief Minister for his clearance. But Mr. Jain’s letter has not yet been presented to the Chief Minister,” the sources added.
