Raghuvanshi was criticised by the Centre for disclosing some information following the arrest of two suspected terrorists in Mumbai.
KP Raghuvanshi has paid the price for talking too much. Days after he invited the ire of the Centre for revealing the names of the suspected terrorists plotting an attack on ONGC tankers, the head of the state anti-terrorism squad (ATS) has been shifted from his position. Rakesh Maria, joint commissioner, crime, will replace him.
The shuffle in the police brass in the middle of the budget session is unusual. The writ of Union home minister P Chidambaram seems to have prevailed over the state government. Chief minister Ashok Chavan signed the transfer orders on Thursday morning, paving the way for the home department to carry out the reshuffle. The ATS chief will now be additional director general of police (law and order).
Raghuvanshi had drawn criticism from the Centre after he revealed the names of alleged terrorists Abdul Latif and Riaz Ali in the ONGC terror plot. “The Union home ministry’s displeasure against Raghuvanshi had led to discontent within the coalition government. While the chief minister was in favour of divesting
Raghuvanshi of his ATS responsibility, home minister RR Patil wanted him to continue,” an official from the home ministry said. Patil almost crossed swords with the Centre by defending Raghuvanshi.
What worked in favour of the Congress leadership is the covert support from the deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal. Highly placed sources indicated that a section within the NCP (read Bhujbal camp) was not averse to changes and felt it was pointless to invite the Centre’s wrath.
“The Centre is justified when it says Raghuvanshi’s disclosure about the Karachi links of the suspects could become an embarrassment for India,” the official said.
Despite several incidents of cold war among the top brass and the state home ministry, the government had failed to conduct a reshuffle. The Centre’s pressure coupled with Chavan’s directives to Patil to act appears to have worked. Earlier, Chavan had said:
“Some action against Raghuvanshi was on the cards...The matter will be discussed with Patil.” Joint police commissioner (law and order) Himanshu Roy will replace Maria as joint commissioner, crime. Joint police commissioner Rajneesh Seth will replace him.
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