Maharashtra: IPS officer Rashmi Shukla could return to state cadre

Rashmi Shukla was the state’s intelligence chief during Fadnavis’s tenure as CM. File pic

Senior Indian Police Service officer Rashmi Shukla, who has been given a clean chit in phone tapping charges, may be repatriated to the Maharashtra cadre provided the Centre releases her as she is expected to get empanelled as a director general (DG).

The officer, who will replace the senior-most DGP in the state after Hemant Nagarale retires later this month, has been tipped to return to the state. In addition to the Centre's nod, the willingness of the state political bosses, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, will play a major role in her repatriation.

Fadnavis recently told the media that Shukla was falsely implicated even when she was not responsible for the tapping, if any. He had added that there was no evidence but only photocopies submitted and no recordings of alleged conversations provided by the investigators.

When asked on Tuesday, Fadnavis did not comment further on the issue nor he gave any clear indication of the officer's return to the state cadre.

Also Read: One who prepared report on graft in police postings was booked: Fadnavis on IPS officer Shukla

Generally, the Centre (UPSC) asks the state to nominate DG-rank officers for its approval. The UPSC recommends three names and the state has to pick one among them. Early this year, Nagarale, Rajnish Seth and K Venkatesham were recommended. Of them, Seth replaced acting DGP Sanjay Pandey who was later shifted to Mumbai CP's office.

City CP to stay

Sources said the government doesn't plan to change the city commissioner of police. Incumbent Vivek Phansalkar was appointed a couple of days before Shinde and Fadnavis took over the reins in June this year.