Under fire for the custodial death in Sangli, the Maharashtra government on Thursday transferred the Sangli District Superintendent of Police Dattatrey Shinde and Deputy Superintendent of Police (Sangli City) Dipali Kale.
Mr. Shinde was transferred to the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), while Ms. Kale has been posted as Assistant Commissioner of Police with the Solapur city police, a note from the State Home Ministry said.
Both officers, who came under fire for their tardy probe into the custodial death of Aniket Kothale, were served show cause notices on November 14 by Vishwas Nangre-Patil, Inspector-General of Police, Kolhapur range, and had to file their replies within eight days.
There had been clamour for resignations of top police officers by the victim’s family, and political parties.
Kothale and his friend Amol Bhandare were sent to the custody of the Sangli police on November 6 after being charged with robbing an engineer. Kothale was allegedly administered third-degree torture by sub-inspector Yuvaraj Kamte, and died during his interrogation. Mr. Kamte, along with five members of his staff, later tried to burn Kothale’s body.
Kothale’s family has alleged that he was framed by Mr. Kamte for exposing a racket that the sub-inspector was running.
Mr. Kamte and five of his staff were arrested on November 8.
