In a significant move ahead of the upcoming elections, the Election Commission of India has removed Maharashtra’s Director General of Police (DGP) Rashmi Shukla, a 1988-batch IPS officer, from her position due to allegations from the Congress party regarding her bias against opposition groups.
The decision was made on Monday, just days after the Congress party accused Shukla of exhibiting a “clear bias” against opposition parties, including Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP(SP). The party’s concerns were outlined in a letter sent to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar last month, where they also alleged illegal “phone tapping” of opposition leaders when Shukla served as Pune’s police commissioner.
The Election Commission directed the state’s chief secretary to transfer DGP Shukla’s responsibilities to the next senior-most IPS officer in the Maharashtra cadre. Additionally, the chief secretary has been instructed to submit a panel of three IPS officers for appointment as the new DGP by Tuesday afternoon.
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole emphasized the urgency of Shukla’s removal in his communications with the Election Commission, highlighting the escalation of political violence against opposition parties over the past weeks and questioning the law and order situation under her leadership. Patole’s letter referenced previous correspondence dated September 24 and October 4, reiterating the party’s request for Shukla’s dismissal.
In his appeal, Patole stated that Shukla had previously instructed various police officers to file false cases against opposition leaders, alleging a pattern of bias and misconduct that warranted her removal. He pointed out that while other states acted promptly in similar situations, Maharashtra’s police leadership remained unchanged, which he argued contributed to the deteriorating political climate in the state.
The allegations against DGP Rashmi Shukla raise serious questions about impartiality in law enforcement, particularly in the sensitive context of an upcoming election. The Election Commission’s intervention underscores the critical need for neutrality and fairness in the police force during electoral processes.
