Maharashtra Congress seeks immediate ouster of DGP Rashmi Shukla

Patole said Rashmi Shukla was due to retire on June 30, 2024, upon reaching the age of superannuation as per her date of birth in June 1964. “However, she has been illegally granted an extension until January 2026, in direct violation of the Maharashtra Police Act…”

In addition to this unlawful extension, Patole alleged that Shukla had a history of engaging in illegal activities that raised serious concerns about her impartiality and ability to perform her duties with integrity. “She has been involved in the illegal tapping of opposition leaders’ phones without proper authorisation, misleading competent authorities in the process. Despite several cases being registered against her, these cases were shelved following the change of government in Maharashtra, with the BJP coming into power,” he said.

During her tenure as DGP, Patole alleged that she had actively misused her position to harass and threaten opposition leaders, often generating false inquiries and registering baseless cases against them. “She has acted as a political campaigner for the BJP, compromising the integrity and non-partisan nature of her role as a senior police officer.”

As the DG in charge of the ACB, the letter said Shukla summoned opposition party leaders and embers to police stations and ACB offices, using her powers to coerce and intimidate them. “Furthermore, she has aligned the State Intelligence Department (SID) with the interests of the BJP, a trend observed during her previous tenure as Commissioner of SID. Given the above instances of political bias, misuse of government machinery, and illegal activities, it is impossible to ensure a fair and impartial environment for the upcoming elections in Maharashtra while Shrimati Rashmi Shukla continues to hold power over the state police.

In light of these serious violations of laws and protocols, I respectfully request the Election Commission of India to take immediate action to remove Smt. Rashmi Shukla from both the positions of DGP Maharashtra and DG ACB. Her removal is crucial to safeguard democratic processes and ensure that the forthcoming elections are conducted in a fair, free, and transparent manner. ”

Despite repeated attempts, Shukla was not available for comment.