Mumbai Assistant Commissioner transferred

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Zone I) Anil Mahabole, whose name figures in the 2007 Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) report, was transferred to the local arms control room late on Monday. Slain veteran journalist J. Dey had made a mention of the report with Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil during a protest last month.

Mumbai Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Rajnish Seth told The Hindu : “Mr. Mahabole has been attached to the local arms control room.” But, he denied reports that the senior police officer had been forced to go on leave. “He is on three days' leave.”

Many senior crime reporters had demanded a CBI probe into Dey's killing, alleging that there were elements in the police force against whom the journalist had given evidence to Mr. Patil.

The ACB report, a copy of which is with

The Hindu , relates to a complaint filed by a builder against his associates in 2007. The report stated that one of the accused, against whom the complaint was registered, had taken the help of Crime Branch officials to get money from the complainant.

Mr. Mahabole was an Inspector with the Crime Branch then. The report has named Mr. Mahabole and another police official, but said it needs to be verified whether they were involved in demanding bribe through a third person.

The report said Haseena Parkar (wanted fugitive Dawood Ibrahim's sister) was an important accused, but the Crime Branch did not appear to have taken any strong steps against her.

Dey had mentioned the report after his colleague at MiD Day Akela alias Tarakant Dwivedi was arrested under the draconian Official Secrets Act.