The Election Commission categorically stated that Maharashtra DGP S S Virk would be kept off election duty. While the state Government may be at liberty to decide on the appointment of Virk as the state police chief,the poll panel would not like him to handle the election duties,Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami told reporters. His reply came to a question as to why Virk was appointed as the Maharashtra DGP even when he was removed by the EC as the Punjab police chief. Observing that Virk's case was "quite complicated",he said that the Commission wanted to make a clear distinction in this particular case. He said keeping in view the earlier order of the Commission to remove him from the post of Punjab DGP,the Commission did not want to come in the way of the decision of the Maharashtra government. "As far as we are concerned,we will be satisfied with the fact that he will not handle elections. Therefore,we made it very clear to the state government while you may be at liberty to decide on the issue as per court orders,we won't want him to handle elections," Gopalaswami said.
