In a significant development, Vivek Phansalkar, the current Mumbai Police Commissioner, has been appointed as the interim Director General of Police (DGP) for Maharashtra, following the transfer of Rashmi Shukla, the outgoing DGP. Phansalkar, a senior IPS officer of the 1989 batch, will hold the additional charge of DGP until the Election Commission of India (EC) finalizes the appointment of a permanent DGP.
Shukla, who was appointed as the DGP in January 2024 despite being scheduled to retire in June 2024, has been transferred by the EC in light of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. She has been asked to proceed on leave during the election period. Phansalkar, as the senior-most IPS officer in the state, steps into the top police post amid the ongoing electoral process.
Succession Planning Underway
As part of the ongoing transition, the Maharashtra government has submitted the names of three senior IPS officers – Ritesh Kumar, Sanjay Verma, and Vivek Phansalkar – for consideration by the Election Commission for the permanent DGP post. While Phansalkar now holds the interim charge, a fresh round of discussions has begun in political and police circles regarding Shukla’s future and potential replacements.
Shukla’s tenure as DGP was marked by her two-year extension granted by the state government, in line with Supreme Court guidelines on the appointment of DGPs. This extension, however, was contingent on the political and administrative dynamics surrounding the state’s leadership.
Debate Over Future Leadership
Despite Shukla’s relatively recent appointment, the process of identifying her replacement has intensified following her transfer. Among the officers being discussed as potential candidates for the DGP post is Sadanand Date, an IPS officer known for his pivotal role in tackling the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. However, Date is currently heading the National Investigation Agency (NIA), where he has been on deputation since March 2023, and his tenure at the NIA extends until December 2026.
A senior official from the state administration noted that Date’s deputation need not be an obstacle for his return to the state as DGP. “If the state government wishes to bring him back for the DGP post, it is certainly possible,” the official said, indicating that central deputation can be overridden if the state government formally requests his return.
The Role of the Upcoming Elections
The state government is also considering the possibility of allowing the newly elected government to take a final decision on Shukla’s future once the assembly elections are concluded. An official from the Election Commission clarified that its transfer order applies only until the election results are declared, suggesting that the next government may have the discretion to either reinstate Shukla or appoint a new DGP.
As discussions continue behind the scenes, the political and administrative dynamics surrounding the appointment of Maharashtra’s next DGP remain in flux. Shukla, for her part, has not commented publicly on her transfer and did not respond to calls seeking her perspective.
Key Details:
Vivek Phansalkar (IPS 1989: MH) is the new interim DGP of Maharashtra.
Rashmi Shukla, the former DGP, was transferred by the Election Commission amid the upcoming state assembly elections.
The Maharashtra government has proposed three senior officers for the permanent DGP role: Ritesh Kumar, Sanjay Verma, and Vivek Phansalkar.
There is ongoing speculation regarding the future of Rashmi Shukla as DGP, with discussions focusing on whether she will return to the post post-election or if a new face will be appointed.
This development marks a pivotal moment in the state’s law enforcement leadership as the political landscape of Maharashtra prepares for a fresh round of decisions following the assembly elections.
