The Election Commission (EC) has ordered the immediate transfer of Maharashtra’s Director General of Police (DGP) Rashmi Shukla following complaints from Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT). Shukla has been directed to hand over her duties to the next senior IPS officer in the state until a replacement is chosen.
The EC has also requested that Maharashtra’s chief secretary to submit a list of three senior IPS officers by 1 pm on Tuesday from which one will be appointed as the new DGP. This move comes as Maharashtra prepares for its upcoming Assembly elections on November 20.
The Congress had formally raised concerns with the EC on October 31, alleging that Shukla demonstrated bias against the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP – Sharad Pawar faction). The complaints reference Shukla’s time as Pune Police Commissioner and head of the state intelligence department during which she was accused of phone tapping of opposition leaders. When the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition governed Maharashtra, they filed cases against Shukla for alleged phone tapping of leaders including Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. However, these cases were dismissed by the Bombay High Court in 2023 after Shukla appealed.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has reminded officials, through review meetings to remain neutral and visibly impartial throughout the election period by underscoring the need for fairness.
