Parbhani violence: Suspended inspector was transferred in June but managed to stay back

After the violence, 35-year-old law student Pawan Jondhale, who was among around 50 arrested on December 12, died in custody on December 15.

A senior official from Parbhani told The Indian Express on the condition of anonymity, “Ghorband, who had been serving in the Nanded police range, completed seven years in June this year and a transfer order was issued, posting him to the Latur Police Training School (PTC). However, it appears that due to some recommendations, he continued to stay on at the post.”

When The Indian Express contacted Ghorband, he refused to comment on the allegations. However, sources close to the officer said that it was on account of the health condition of a family member that he had requested for an extension, which was granted.

As per Election Commission rules, while an IPS officer who has been in the same Commissionerate/district for three years, he/she has to be transferred, officers at the level of police inspector who have been in the same range for seven years have to be transferred ahead of polls. This is done so that they cannot use their clout to influence polls.

Since June 2017, Ghorband has been posted in areas that fall under the Nanded range as Kotwali police station in Parbhani, Nanded Rural police station in Nanded and eventually as the LCB chief in Parbhani. A source said that Ghorband was on good terms with a local lawmaker. While his name was present on the transfer list, his application to not be transferred out was accepted, the source said.

An officer from Parbhani said that even in the past they have received complaints against Ghorband from the Dalit community. “Earlier there was a murder of a Dalit boy by a Maratha in Parbhani. Ghorband, who was handling the incident, made some remarks following which there was trouble and the IG had to rush there,” the official said.

He added that that even when he was being transferred to Parbhani in January, there was resistance by some senior officers against his transfer as there had been complaints against him in the past. However, a month later, thanks to a former senior officer, Ghorband was eventually transferred there, the officer said.

Advocate Somnath Jondhale, who appeared for several of the accused, including Suryavanshi, said that in the past, members from the Dalit community had given written complaints against Ghorband but no action was taken against him. Sources close to Ghorband denied all allegations and said that there was no proof for the allegations, which will be made clear in the judicial probe ordered in the Parbhani case by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

An official said while Ghorband was heading the LCB, the Superintendent of Police of Parbhani Ravindrasinh Pardeshi has been away on training from prior to this incident following which additional SP Yashwant Kale has been holding charge for him. Pardeshi is slated to return to his posting later this month. Shahaji Umap, who is a DIG rank officer, is currently holding the charge of the range Inspector General (IG), a rank above his current designation.

“The posting of LCB chief is considered powerful in a district. There has been political interference when it comes to who should be posted as the LCB chief in a district, especially by local politicians. Since this was an election year, the interference was all the more,” a senior officer said. He added, “In several districts, local guardian ministers try to influence postings of officers who they feel will cooperate with them,” said a senior officer.

Violence erupted in Parbhani on December 10 after a man desecrated a replica of the Constitution near the Ambedkar statue, sparking anger among the Ambedkarite community. While a peaceful protest followed the incident, acts of vandalism later escalated tensions.

Police arrested nearly 50 persons, of which Suryavanshi died on December 15. Preliminary postmortem report said he died of “shock following multiple injuries”. After protests, Fadnavis suspended Ghorband pending judicial inquiry to find out if excess force had been used by Ghorband.