This is an archive article published on January 4, 2024
Who is Rashmi Shukla, the IPS officer appointed Maharashtra DGP
Under the MVA government, three FIRs were registered alleging calls of MVA leaders were intercepted illegally by the State Intelligence Department (SID), which Rashmi Shukla had headed.
Rashmi Shukla, a 1988-batch IPS officer, one of the most senior IPS officers in the Maharashtra Police, was on central deputation heading the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
Shukla has also served as the Pune police commissioner where she was known for starting initiatives like ‘buddy cop’ which was replicated across the state.
Why did Rashmi Shukla fall out of favour with the MVA government?
After the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government came to power in the state in 2019, they allegedly viewed her as being close to the BJP government and transferred her from her post as State Intelligence Commissioner (SID) to Civil Defence, seen as a non-executive one, in 2020. In February 2021, Shukla went on central deputation as ADG Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). She was eventually made the SSB head.
Under the MVA government, three FIRs were registered alleging calls of MVA leaders were intercepted illegally and data from the State Intelligence Department (SID), which Shukla had headed, was leaked to the Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis. Of the three cases, in two, Shukla was named as the accused.
Last month, the Bombay High Court quashed two of the three FIRs – in Pune and Mumbai – registered against her. After the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government came to power in Maharashtra, the third case was transferred to the CBI. Later this case was closed after the court allowed the CBI’s closure report paving the way for her return to the state.
How long will her tenure be as DGP?
Shukla retires in June 2024, so her tenure will be six months. However, the Maharashtra government can give her extensions as they have in the past in the case of other DGPs.
While the Prakash Singh judgment of the Supreme Court seeks a two-year tenure for DGPs so that they are not susceptible to political pressures, an officer said the Maharashtra Police Act provides for a two-year tenure only if the officer is not retiring.
Mohamed Thaver is a highly specialized journalist with the Expertise and Authority required to report on complex law enforcement and legal issues. With a career dedicated to the crime beat for over a decade, his work provides readers with informed and trustworthy insights into Maharashtra's security and justice systems.
Experience & Authority
Core Focus: Has been exclusively covering the crime beat for over a decade, building deep, specialized knowledge in the field.
Geographical Authority: Currently focuses heavily on law enforcement and policy in Maharashtra, providing authoritative coverage of the state's security apparatus.
Key Beats:
Law Enforcement: Reports on the operations of the Maharashtra Police and the Mumbai Crime Branch.
Policy & Administration: Covers the Maharashtra Home Department, focusing on policy matters related to handling law and order and the evolution of the police force.
Judiciary: Has significant past experience covering the courts, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the entire criminal justice process from investigation to verdict.
Specialized Interest (Cyber & Forensics): Demonstrates Expertise in modern investigative techniques, with a keen focus on cyber crime and forensics, reporting on how these technologies assist complex crime investigations.
Content Focus: His reports revolve around police probes, the evolution of the force, and state policy, ensuring his content is highly relevant and detailed.
Credentials & Trustworthiness
Mohamed Thaver’s long-standing specialization in the crime beat—combined with his focus on technological aspects like cyber crime and his direct coverage of major institutions like the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Maharashtra Home Department—underscores his Trustworthiness and status as an expert source for detailed and reliable journalism on law and order.
He tweets @thaver_mohamed ... Read More
