Handing over of gangster Chhota Rajan's cases to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has laid bare the bickering between the Mumbai police and bureaucracy. The entire operation was planned with such secrecy that even Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was informed just 24 hours before Rajan flew from Bali with a team of CBI officials and Mumbai police.
According to top sources in Maharashtra government, the state government was under the impression till Wednesday evening that Rajan would be brought to Delhi and will be handed over to the Mumbai police later for further investigation. "On Wednesday evening, the chief minister received a call from a top Union home ministry official, informing him about the decision of handing over all Rajan cases to CBI", said a source. He added, "The CM was also requested to ensure that an announcement in this regard was done by the Maharashtra government."
Following the instructions from the Union home minister, Fadnavis on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting attended by Additional Chief Secretary (ACS-Home) KP Bakshi, Mumbai police commissioner Ahmad Javed and Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Atulchandra Kulkarni, in which the home ministry's decision was discussed.
According to a source, Javed reportedly registered his protest against the decision. "During the meeting, the commissioner told the CM that the decision would seriously affect the morale of the force, to which Fadnavis expressed helplessness, as the orders had come from the central government," said a source. He added, "Due to the commissioner's reservation, the responsibility of making the announcement was entrusted to ACS (Home)." Hence, breaking away from the protocol, ACS (Home) arrived at the Mumbai police headquarters at Crawford Market and addressed the press at Javed's office.
