MUMBAI, MAY 22: Six deputy inspectors-general of police -- including controversial DIG Ulhas Joshi -- have been transferred and promoted to inspectors-general. They are, besides Joshi, S S Puri, T C Wankhede, S S Suradkar, R B Pawar, and Sudhakar Ambedkar.

The promotions, announced today, created two vacancies at the DIG level which will result in the elevation of many officers from the lower ranks.

Puri, who was director, Public Prosecution, has been promoted and transferred as managing director, Police Housing Corporation. He has been replaced by Wankhede, who headed the State Reserve Police in Nagpur. Suradkar will be IG, Planning and Coordination, at the state Police Headquarters, Colaba. His was IG (Crime), Pune. Pawar, who was DIG (Crime) in Pune, will now be the new IG (Crime) there.

Joshi, the commissioner of police in Aurangabad, has not been transferred anywhere but his post has been upgraded from the DIG to the IG level. He will continue to be CP of Aurangabad.

Joshi had created a stir some months back by accusing the state government of delaying his promotion. In fact, there were differences in the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance over promoting him. Ambedkar, commissioner of police, Navi Mumbai, has been promoted in the same way as Joshi. His post has been upgraded to IG while he remains Navi Mumbai police chief.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.