Senior IPS officer Rashmi Shukla is likely to become the next Maharashtra Director General of Police (DGP). Chief minister Eknath Shinde has approved current DGP Rajnish Seth's name for the post of chairman of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC).
Ms. Shukla was being investigated during the Maha Vikas Aghadi government regime for the alleged illegal phone tapping of political leaders of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP. The then government led by Uddhav Thackeray had alleged that Ms. Shukla was tapping the phones at the behest of BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.
A senior officer in Mantralaya, requesting anonymity, told this newspaper that Rajnish Seth’s name has been sent for the approval of Governor Ramesh Bais on Tuesday. “Once the Governor approves Rajnish Seth’s name, a notification will be issued in the next eight to ten days for the chairman of MPSC,” the senior official said.
This has paved the way for Rashmi Shukla, who is being considered a top contender for the next state police chief in Maharashtra, to become next DGP in the state.
An official from the home department said that a proposal containing a list of senior IPS officers has been sought from the DGP office for the next DGP. The list is expected to include names of Ms. Shukla, Mumbai police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar, police housing corporation chief Sandeep Bishnoi, railway police director general Pradnya Sarvade, Thane police commissioner Jaijeet Singh as per seniority. “We are expecting the list in a week. We will send the list to the UPSC, which will send three names of senior IPS officers. Of these three names, the state will then pick one of them as the next DGP,” the official said.
Ms Shukla, who is an officer of the 1988 batch, is currently on deputation and works as the Director-General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
According to the sources, Ms Shukla will get more than nine months as she will retire in June 2024. Besides this, looking at her proximity with the current dispensation, she is likely to be given an extension of six months so that Maharashtra Assembly election will be held under her supervision in October 2024.
Since Ms Shukla’s name is being discussed for the next DGP, Maharashtra Congress has opposed her name stating that instead of putting her behind the bars, the government is going to appoint Ms Shukla as next DGP.
