Mumbai: Controversial IPS officer Rashmi Shukla, who received a two-year extension and was appointed as Maharashtra’s Director General of Police under the BJP-led alliance, has been removed from her position. Congress state president Nana Patole, who had previously demanded her removal over allegations of aiding the ruling BJP, welcomed the move but questioned the delay in action.
Patole expressed gratitude for Shukla’s removal by the Election Commission but pointed out that while police chiefs in states like Jharkhand and West Bengal were promptly replaced, action against Shukla took considerably longer. “Why did this process take so much time?” he asked, adding that Shukla should not be assigned any election-related responsibilities.
Reacting to her removal, Patole described Shukla as a “controversial officer,” citing her past actions allegedly favoring the current ruling regime. Accusations against Shukla include involvement in the illegal phone tapping of opposition leaders and pending criminal charges. Despite this, her term was reportedly extended by two years by Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde, raising concerns about impartiality in her role.
Due to apprehensions about her capacity to ensure fair and transparent elections, the Congress had formally requested her immediate removal in a letter to the Election Commission on September 24, 2024. Subsequently, on September 27, a Congress delegation met the Chief Election Commissioner during his visit to Maharashtra to reinforce the demand for Shukla’s removal, with follow-up reminders sent on October 31 and November 4.
Although Shukla has now been removed, Patole criticized the delay, emphasizing the urgency initially conveyed in the Congress party’s appeals to ensure election neutrality.
