As per documents provided in response to the RTI query, the Cooperatives, Marketing and Textiles Department received a request from Pingle saying that since there were complaints against More, he should be transferred out of the district.

Pingle’s first reaction to the report was one of complete denial. “It has nothing to do with me,” he said. “My party workers or office staff may have sent the transfer request.” But later, he added: “In any case, More had done a long stint in Nashik earlier. He was transferred out for just six months before being brought back in.”

Ironically, the department had initially rejected the transfer request stating that since More had not completed his tenure, he could not be moved out of Nashik district.