Decode Politics: Come Mahayuti, come Rashmi Shukla, the DGP at the heart of Maharashtra twists and turns

Why was Shukla acceptable connected compulsory leave?

In a November 4 order, the EC ordered the transportation of Shukla, though it did not supply immoderate circumstantial reasons. This followed aggregate complaints by leaders from the Opposition MVA’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress claiming she had “doubtful integrity” and was biased towards the BJP, and that with her heading the force, the elections would not beryllium carried retired successful a escaped and just manner.

After the EC asked her to beryllium transferred, she was sent connected compulsory permission and IPS serviceman Sanjay Kumar Verma was made the DGP. With the Assembly elections completed, the authorities has present reinstated her.

Why is it viewed arsenic a governmental determination successful immoderate quarters?

Shukla, who enjoys a adjacent rapport with the BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis, has been eyed with suspicion by the Opposition. After she was sent connected compulsory leave, it was mostly believed that she would beryllium backmost arsenic the DGP lone if the Fadnavis-led BJP fared good successful the polls and formed the government. With the BJP performing exceptionally good and Fadnavis tipped to beryllium the adjacent CM, galore saw Shukla’s reinstatement arsenic a foregone conclusion.

How has the Congress reacted?

Soon aft she was brought back, the Congress cried foul claiming that the EC bid had sought Shukla’s imperishable removal arsenic the DGP.

Shukla, who was owed to discontinue successful June, was fixed a two-year tenure arsenic the DGP successful January this year. But the Congress has demanded that Shukla beryllium asked to retire. “Given that the work hold was specifically granted for the relation of DGP and was not applicable to immoderate different role, it logically follows that upon vacating the DGP position, the officer’s work automatically terminates. Therefore, immoderate reassignment oregon assignment to different presumption would beryllium legally impermissible,” Congress Maharashtra main Nana Patole had written to the EC aft it ordered her transfer.

Further, Congress main spokesperson Atul Londhe alleged Shukla met Fadnavis astatine his authoritative residence connected November 23, during the counting of votes for the Assembly elections, portion the Model Code of Conduct was inactive successful effect.

What is down Shukla’s fraught narration with the Opposition?

The Opposition alleges that Shukla, arsenic caput of the State Intelligence Department (SID), had tapped calls of Opposition leaders, including NCP (SP) main Sharad Pawar, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and Nana Patole, portion the Fadnavis-led BJP was successful powerfulness successful the authorities till 2019.

After the MVA came to powerfulness successful 2019, it viewed Shukla arsenic being adjacent to the BJP authorities and transferred her to Civil Defence, which is seen arsenic a non-executive posting, successful 2020. In February 2021, Shukla was sent connected cardinal deputation arsenic the Additional Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and past arsenic the caput of the Sashastra Seema Bal.

Following her departure from Maharashtra, 2 FIRs – 1 each successful Pune and Mumbai – were registered against her successful February and March 2022 for allegedly tapping the phones of Opposition leaders and leaking accusation to the past Leader of the Opposition Fadnavis.

After the FIRs were registered successful the telephone tapping lawsuit and a Mumbai Police squad recorded Shukla’s connection successful Hyderabad successful transportation with the case, she moved court. The constabulary past registered different FIR successful which Shukla was not named arsenic an accused.

After the Shiv Sena-BJP authorities led by Eknath Shinde came to powerfulness successful June 2022, the 3rd lawsuit was transferred to the CBI. In September 2023, the Bombay High Court quashed 2 of the 3 FIRs registered against her. Later, the 3rd lawsuit excessively was closed aft the tribunal accepted the CBI’s closure report, paving the mode for her instrumentality to the state.