Maharashtra's seniormost IPS officer moves Bombay HC over appointment of DGP

Pandey also wrote to CM Uddhav Thackeray for what he says repeatedly ignoring him for important postings

Repeatedly being ignored for top assignments, seniormost IPS officer of Maharashtra Sanjay Pandey is moving the Bombay High Court for restoring seniority in the appointment of state’s Director General of Police.

The development comes close on the heels of ex-Mumbai Police chief Param Bir Singh moving the Supreme Court and demanding a CBI probe against Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

Last week, Singh (1988 batch) was shunted out, he was made the Commandant General of Home Guards and in his place DGP Hemant Nagrale (1987-batch) was given the top post of Mumbai.

Nagrale was succeeded by Rajneesh Seth (1988-batch) as the Acting DGP, while Pandey (1986-batch), who was Commandant General of Home Guards, was moved out and made Managing Director of Maharashtra State Security Corporation.

Pandey, the seniormost officer, has last week also written to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for what he says repeatedly ignoring him for important postings.

In April 2000, Pandey had resigned but the government did not accept his resignation till June 2002 during which period, he was shown “on leave”. However, Pandey joined the services again in 2011.

In the letter, Pandey said: “You overlooked me for the post of DG-ACB which was given to a junior officer. In fact DG-ACB is given to a senior officer next to State-DGP. As CP Mumbai post became second seniormost post, when it became vacant you overlooked me and gave it to a junior officer.When the post of DGP became vacant after Subodh Jaiswal left, you did not even consider to give additional charge to me and handed over the same to a junior officer.”

He also pointed out that giving additional charge too for acting DGP is illegal and against Supreme Court order in Prakash Singh case.

“Now after the recent explosive case controversy in Mumbai, you again overlooked me and handed over additional charge of DGP, to a still junior officer much against Prakash Singh case,” he said.

“I wish and pray that you will personally ensure that injustice done to me is corrected and I am given my rightful place in the police force as senior most officer in the state,” Pandey added.