The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed Sanjay Kumar Verma (IPS: 1990: MH) as Maharashtra’s new Director General of Police (DGP), replacing Rashmi Shukla (IPS: 1988: MH), who was transferred on Monday in advance of the upcoming Assembly elections. Verma officially assumes the role on Tuesday. Following Shukla’s transfer, Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar (IPS: 1989: MH) temporarily held the post.
The ECI’s directive to transfer Shukla, Maharashtra’s first female DGP, came in response to complaints from political parties, including the Congress. The opposition alleged Shukla’s involvement in politically charged incidents, which included telephone tapping of political figures, sparking calls for her removal. The Election Commission appointed Verma, currently Maharashtra’s Director General (legal and technical), as the new DGP to ensure a neutral law enforcement environment before the November 20 polls.
Verma’s appointment follows the submission of a three-candidate panel by Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, featuring Phansalkar, Verma, and Ritesh Kumar. A formal government order on Verma’s position is anticipated shortly.
The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) have been vocal in calling for Shukla’s transfer. Congress state chief Nana Patole alleged that Shukla ordered new rounds of telephone tapping, while her tenure as head of the State Intelligence Department also drew significant scrutiny. Previously, Shukla was transferred to the central government, serving as Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal.
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The controversy surrounding Shukla intensified after recent accusations from Patole and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut about continued phone tapping under her watch. NCP chief Sharad Pawar underscored the rare alignment of opposition voices against a single police official. Sources close to the Election Commission noted that Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar raised concerns over politically motivated crimes in Maharashtra during a law and order review meeting, urging Shukla to enforce stringent measures to preserve electoral integrity.
