Telgi-tainted Mumbai police now see their ‘clean-up’ chief shunted

The government’s defence is that there are too many DGP-rank posts in the state and they weren’t going to create another—despite the fact that it’s been done before.

‘‘I have done my job with great honesty, not allowing any interference,’’ Pasricha told the Indian Express on Tuesday. ‘‘I have paid a very heavy price for taking on the system…I have been used and thrown out.’’

Mumbai had been buzzing with rumours the last two days that the government would succumb to pressure from disgruntled officers and irked politicians and remove Pasricha. The officer had moved a host of politically connected officers—many with dubious reputations—out of their cosy sojourns in Mumbai. He had also transferred more than 2,000 officers and constables.

Pasricha is being replaced by Pune Police Commissioner A.N. Roy, a choice of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo who had been successfully resisted by Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde in November 2003. But Home Minister R.R. Patil, a Sharad Pawar confidant, denied his boss played any role. ‘‘This is not a political decision,’’ Patil said.

However, an angry Pasricha questioned the official reason. Pointing out that the government knew when it brought him as police chief that he was due for a promotion, he said: ‘‘It was the government which chose me to take charge of a sinking force… I have not taken a single holiday in all my 77 days. I have been working to boost the morale and build confidence in the public.’’

Taken by surprise, the Opposition reacted strongly. ‘‘After Patil took over the Home Department from (Chhagan) Bhujbal, we thought he would initiate steps to restore its credibility,’’ said Nitin Gadkari, leader of the opposition. ‘‘But it now appears he is following Bhujbal.’’

Former Chief Minister Narayan Rane said Pasricha was moved for ‘‘obvious’’ political reasons at a time when he was ‘‘cleaning up the corrupt department’’.