Mumbai: In a sweeping administrative overhaul, the Maharashtra Home Department has transferred and appointed 26 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers across the state in a move aimed at improving operational efficiency and streamlining law enforcement structures.
The reshuffle, announced officially on Friday, includes several high-profile changes. Most notably, the post of Mumbai Railway Police Commissioner has been downgraded from Special Director General to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) rank, with Rakesh Kalasagar appointed to the position.
Key Transfers and Appointments–
Mumbai Railway Police Commissioner: The position has been downgraded from Special Director General to Deputy Inspector General (DIG). Rakesh Kalasagar has been appointed to this role.
Additional Police Commissioner, Central Region, Mumbai: Anil Parasakar has been transferred to the Protection and Security Department as Additional Commissioner of Police.
Pune City Crime Branch: Shailesh Balkawade has been moved from the Pune City Crime Branch to the same position in the Mumbai Crime Branch.
Traffic Department: M. Ramkumar, previously with the Traffic Department as Additional Commissioner, has been appointed Director at the State Intelligence Training Institute in Pune.
Crime Department: Shashikumar Meena, formerly with the Crime Department, has now been appointed as Additional Commissioner for the Uttar Pradesh division.
Major Commissioner and DIG-Level Postings:
- A.H. Chawariya is the new Commissioner of Police, Amravati.
- S.T. Rathod has been appointed as DIG, Anti-Narcotics Task Force.
- Shewale will serve as DIG, Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Mumbai.
- G. Sridhar moves to the Police Department (IT & Traffic) as DIG.
Other Notable Appointments:
- Praveen Patil, Vasant Pardeshi, and Rajendra Dabhade – Additional Commissioners, Nagpur City.
- Sanjay B. Patil and Rajesh Bansode – Additional Commissioners, Pune City.
- S. D. Awhad – Additional Commissioner, Pimpri-Chinchwad.
- Vinita Sahu – Additional Commissioner, Armed Police Force, Mumbai.
- Vikram Deshmane – Additional Commissioner, Central Region, Mumbai.
- Dhananjay Kulkarni – Additional Commissioner, Special Branch, Mumbai.
- Priyanka Narnavare – Additional Police Commissioner, Traffic, Mumbai.
- Arvind Salve – Assistant Director, Maharashtra Police Academy, Nashik.
- Suresh Kumar Negade – Chief Efficiency Officer, CIDCO, Navi Mumbai.
- Vijay Magar – DIG, NCR.
Highway and Special Force Assignments:
- Prasad Akkanwar – Commandant, SRPF Group 8, Mumbai.
- Pankaj Deshmukh – Commander, National Highway Police Force No. 9, Amravati.
- Amogh Gavkar – Commander, National Highway Police Force No. 4, Nagpur.
The state government said the reshuffle is intended to better match officers’ skillsets with the requirements of their new assignments, while also fostering a more responsive and efficient police administration.