Senior IPS officer Rashmi Shukla has been reinstated as Maharashtra’s Director General of Police (DGP), following the conclusion of the election code of conduct. The state home department formalized her reappointment late Monday, after she was sent on leave by the Election Commission earlier during the election period.
Shukla, who is the most senior IPS officer in the state, is set to take charge on Tuesday. She will replace Sanjay Kumar Verma, who served as the interim DGP during her absence. Verma will revert to his previous position as DG Legal and Technical.
Ms. Shukla, a 1988-batch IPS officer, was removed as the DGP of the state on November 4 this year by the Election Commission, due to allegations from the Congress party regarding her bias against opposition groups.
The Congress party accused Shukla of exhibiting a “clear bias” against opposition parties, including Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP). The party’s concerns were outlined in a letter sent to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar in October this year, in which they also alleged the illegal “phone tapping” of opposition leaders when Shukla served as Pune’s police commissioner.
Ms Shukla’s reinstatement has now sparked controversy once again, particularly from opposition parties. Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe raised concerns about the timing of her meeting with Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on November 23, the same day as the assembly election results were announced. Londhe questioned whether the meeting, held at Fadnavis’ official residence, violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
In response, Deputy CM Fadnavis clarified that the state government had submitted a list of senior officers to the Union Home Ministry, based on seniority.
Ms. Shukla, who was set to retire in June 2024, was granted a two-year extension in January this year. In terms of seniority, she is followed by officers from the 1989 batch: Sandeep Bishnoi, the Managing Director of the Maharashtra Police Housing and Welfare Corporation, and Vivek Phansalkar, the Mumbai Police Commissioner.
Rashmi Shukla first made headlines in 2022 when she was accused of illegal phone tapping of key political figures, including Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut and NCP’s Eknath Khadse, dating back to 2019. An FIR was registered against her, but the Bombay High Court quashed the case later that year. Prior to this controversy, Shukla was the head of Maharashtra’s Intelligence Department. She also held significant positions, including Pune Police Commissioner and Director of State Intelligence.
Apart from her law enforcement career, Shukla faced allegations of leaking a classified report regarding police corruption during her tenure as the Commissioner of the State Intelligence Department. She has denied these charges, asserting that her actions were in the interest of national security and public service.
Born on August 15, 1965, Shukla’s distinguished career includes receiving the prestigious President’s Medal in 2004 and 2013. She was also the second woman to serve as Mumbai’s Police Commissioner.
Her return to the post of DGP, however, has certainly sparked debates, especially regarding the timing and circumstances surrounding her reappointment.
