The row over the appointment of Mumbai’s top cop took a turn for the worse with two prominent contenders, Vijay Kamble and Ahmad Javed, deciding to go on leave in protest against the elevation of anti-terror squad chief Rakesh Maria to the post
Two senior IPS officers, who were in the race for the coveted post of Mumbai Police Commissioner but were left disappointed as their junior Rakesh Maria was chosen for the job, have gone on leave claiming that injustice has been done to them.
According to police sources, the two officers — Javed Ahmed and Vijay Kamble — who were eyeing the top post for quite some time, expressed their disappointment to the state government, saying that injustice had been meted out to them by not considering them for it.
To lodge their protest, the two have gone on leave.
Ahmed, a 1979 batch IPS officer and former Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), has been promoted as Director General (Home Guards). Kamble, a 1980 batch officer and former Additional Director General of Police (Highways), has now been transferred as the Thane Police Commissioner.
Rakesh Maria, a 1981 batch officer and former Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief, was appointed as Mumbai Police Commissioner on Saturday, after the post remained vacant for 15 days.
Maria is also an Additional Director General rank officer.
Ahmed was of the view that he would be selected for the post as he was the senior-most in comparison to Kamble and Maria.
However, Ahmed was promoted as Director General (Home Guards) by the government, but he was not satisfied, sources said.
“Whereas Kamble was sure that he would grab the Mumbai Police Commissioner’s post as Ahmed Javed was due for promotion as a Director General rank officer. When Ahmed was promoted, Kamble thought his route is now clear as he is senior to Rakesh Maria, although he and Maria are of same rank,” said a police officer.
As per rules, the post of Mumbai Commissioner of Police can be occupied by an Additional Director General rank police officer. After Maria’s appointment as Mumbai police chief, the two applied for leave from today. Both the officers were unavailable for comment.
