Rakesh Maria’s days as Mumbai’s top cop numbered?

Mumbai: Ten months after he was appointed as the city’s top cop, there are indications that Rakesh Maria’s transfer is under consideration by the chief minister. The likeliest candidate to replace him is Nagpur commissioner K.K. Pathak.

Mr Pathak is known to be the blue-eyed boy of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Significantly, Mr Maria was always considered close to NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Mr Maria is likely to be transferred as DG — police housing.

An official from the CM’s office, while confirming that Mr Maria’s transfer file is under consideration, said that Navi Mumbai police commissioner K.L. Prasad was also one of the frontrunners for the post.

But Mr Fadnavis is said to be inching in favour of Mr Pathak.

Mr Pathak hails from Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh and known to be close to Union home minister Rajnath Singh and Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari.

Mr Maria’s transfer as DG police housing is expected because there is displeasure in the police ranks against sitting DG Arup Patnaik.