Shoe pinches: Pandey shifted out to Jalna

Apart from Pandey, 27 officials of the rank of DCP including six from the city were also transferred today. Pandey refused to comment on his transfer. “I am obeying the orders given to me by the government. I have already handed over the charge to DCP Hemant Karkare,” was all he would say. He once again refused comment when asked if he was satisfied with his tenure at the EOW and particularly with his investigation in the Cobbler Scam. In a day of major police reshuffle, the Sena-BJP government also approved the promotion of controversial officer Ulhas Joshi as Inspector General of Police. Joshi at present is the Commissioner of Police in the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police. All the four batchmates of Joshi, including his arch rival S G Suradkar and T C Wankhede were promoted a month ago. Joshi’s promotion was held up owing to a pending inquiry against him by the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Sources say that though the Sena leaders in the city had strong objections to Joshi’s promotion mainly due to the pending inquiry they had to bow under pressure from the party’s leaders in Aurangabad who had been pressuring Manohar Joshi to upgrade the Aurangabad Commissioner’s post for him. Before his posting to Aurangabad, Joshi was in Thane district. First as a deputy commissioner and subsequently as DIG. Though he has been accused of not arresting alleged criminal Bhai Thakur during his tenure in Thane district, major illegal constructions in the entire district, particularly those belonging to then Congress legislator Pappu Kalani were demolished.

Sanjay Pandey who enjoys the reputation of being one of the most intrepid cops in the city has been used to tackling controversy as he been tough cases. Just a few months ago he hit the headlines when during court proceedings on the cobbler scam, Pandey abused public prosecutor V T Tulpule. Later, of course Pandey had to furnish an unconditional apology to the court for incurring contempt. But Pandey always believed that the public prosecutor had been going rather soft on the prime accused in the cobbler scam. He is equally known for his ruthlessness towards those who often flaunt their top political connections’. He had also arrested Kulkarni, a former IAS officer and Kanga, a senior solicitor and former ambassador, for their alleged involvement in Rs 15-crore Pratibha Pratishthan scam. The Pratishthan was formed by former state CM A R Antulay. Pandey had also arrested noted sexologist Dr Prakash Kothari in the SSC paper leak case.

The police officers’ transfer list

Following is the list of IPS officials who were transferred on Friday: DCP T A Chavan (Zone 5) will be the new Superintendent of Police (Singli) in place of Kulwant Kumar, who will be new SP of Latur. A M Kampte will be the new SP Thane (Rural) in place of K L Prasad, who has been shifted to the metropolis as DCP. Solapur SP A K Sharma has been transferred to Mumbai as the Commandent of the State Reserve Police Force, while S V Ganorkar has been posted as DCP, New Mumbai. M K Karve, Commandent, SRPF, Daund will be new SP of Beed in place of Jagannath, who has been posted in Pune as DCP.

R M Kedari, DCP Pune will replace Karve in SRPF, Chandrapur SP R K Padmanabhan has been shifted to Solapur, M H Gavit, Deputy Director, Police Training School, Nasik will be the new DCP in Mumbai. S R Kapse, DCP (Special Security) has been shifted to New Mumbai as DCP.

S A Kakkar, DCP (Anti-Corruption) has been shifted to Mumbai as DCP, while Zone 4 DCP Laxminarayan has been posted as Nanded SP. Sindhudurg SP Dalbeer Singh will replace Kapse, Sanjay Singhal has been promoted as posted in place of Dalbeer Singh. Zone 9 DCP A S Ahire has been shifted to Thane as DCP, S T Thorat, Chief Security Officer, State Legislature has been appointed as DCP, Mumbai.

D D Kamlakar has been shifted to Nagpur as DCP, New Mumbai DCP A R Dongre has been shifted to the Metropolis, while DCP (Traffic) A S Kemkar has been appointed Deputy Director, Police Training School, Nasik. DCP M B Goud has been posted As Additional SP Akola in place of S K Wathore, who will be new SP (Crime), Pune, V R Ingle (SRPF) has been appointed in Nagpur. DCP D L Bachav has been posted as Principal Police (Women) Training School, Solapur.