The chief minister is not too keen on pursuing the AN Roy case in Supreme Court but some NCP leaders want to move the apex court to prove that Roy’s appointment was justified.
Home minister Jayant Patil, who is out of Mumbai, said he had not seen the court order. Roy was always perceived to be close to NCP president and Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar. And Thursday’s court ruling on Roy has further created a wedge between Congress and NCP.
“Former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was against Roy’s appointment,” a senior Congress minister said. “He did not want to interfere because the home portfolio was with NCP.”
After the November 26 terror attacks, some Congress leaders wanted Roy dismissed from the DGP’s post. Even during the winter session of the state legislature at Nagpur in December, the opposition had stepped up campaign against Roy. But NCP came to his defence saying the police performance was excellent.
A principal secretary said, “At present one set of leaders want that Roy be sacked immediately. Another set of leaders wants the government to take up the case in higher court.” A cabinet minister from NCP said it would set a precedent if the government did not move Supreme Court.
“Roy’s appointment as the DGP was an administrative and executive decision. The government should not give up at this stage because there is a provision to take up the case in Supreme Court.
