New Mumbai police commissioner transferred in major reshuffle

In a sudden move, the Maharashtra government transferred P. S. Pasricha, who took over the Mumbai police commissioner's post less than three months ago from R. S. Sharma.

Sharma is now under arrest for his connection with the Telgi fake stamp paper case.

Home Minister R. R. Patil said yesterday that the transfer was not politically motivated but Pasricha was in for a promotion. It was a step taken to comply with administrative guidelines.

Pune Police Commissioner A.N. Roy will replace Pasricha, who has been promoted as Director General of Police and posted as Managing Director of Maharashtra State Police Welfare and Housing Corporation.

Patil said that Roy was a senior and experienced officer and his induction will send a good message in the police department.

In the reshuffle, State Intelligence Commissioner V. N. Deshmukh has been posted as the new Pune Police Commissioner while the present Nagpur Police Commissioner Jayant Umranikar will replace Deshmukh. D. Shivanandan, Joint Director, Central Bureau of Investigation, West zone, has been promoted Additional Director General of Police and posted as the Nagpur police chief.

Pasricha, who took over his city police chief post with aplomb to eliminate rampant corruption in the police force, said that he was "deeply hurt and humiliated" over his sudden transfer.

He said the government knew that he was to be promoted when he took over as chief.
Apparently, the union home ministry had reviewed the police cadre in the city and wanted to maintain that the post of city police chief should be that of additional director general of police.