In what could be seen as the fallout of the ongoing inquiry by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the finding of explosives outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s house and the subsequent arrest of Mumbai police officer Sachin Vaze , the Maharashtra government on Wednesday transferred Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh.
Also read: Mukesh Ambani home bomb scare linked to Tihar inmate
Hemant Nagrale, who was handling the additional charge as DGP, will take his place. Mr. Singh has been posted as the DG Home Guards, a low-key post. Rajneesh Seth has been given the additional charge as DGP, Maharashtra. Sanjay Pandey will head the Maharashtra State Security Corporation.
The decision to transfer Mr. Singh was confirmed in a late-night meeting Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held with Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and officials from the Home Department on Tuesday. On Monday, NCP president Sharad Pawar too met Mr. Thackeray.
Ever since the arrest of API Vaze — considered a close aide of Mr. Singh — in the bomb scare case by the NIA, the political and police circles were abuzz with the possibility of his transfer. After the meeting of the Ministers of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), its state president and Irrigation Minister Jayant Patil had hinted that action would be taken after the inquiry.
Mr. Singh’s transfer is also seen as an attempt by the State government to avoid yet another embarrassment as witnessed after the arrest of Mr. Vaze and its delay in transferring him from the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Mumbai police.
Opposition BJP said it was natural for the city police chief to be changed after one of its officers was arrested by the NIA. “According to us, these [Mr. Singh and Mr. Vaze] are small players. It is important that the NIA catches its political masters,” said former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a press conference at Delhi.
