Lobbying for Mumbai police commissioner's post begins

MUMBAI: With lobbying for the Mumbai police commissioner’s post escalating, aspirants are being forced to encounter sniping from different quarters.
The lobbying has now taken such a turn that outgoing police chief M.N. Singh was forced to issue a press release on Tuesday saying that the office of the police commissioner was “being brought into disrepute’’ by “unconfirmed rumours’’.
Mr Singh, who retires on December 31, said he was distressed to read reports that money was playing a major role in the selection of his successor and hoped nobody would do anything that would erode people’s confidence in the office of the police commissioner.He also clarified that he was not seeking an extension.
Among those in the race are the police commissioners of Thane and Pune, S.M. Shangari and Ranjit Sharma respectively, and additional directors-general O.P. Bali, T.K. Chowdhary and K.K. Kashyap.
According to seniority, T. Singarvel should be appointed commissioner. “But his name is not being considered because he is too upright and he does not have a political godfather,’’ a Mantralaya official said. With allegations and counter-allegations flying fast, those opposing Mr Choudhary’s candidature claimed that a complaint against his son, Ranjit, had been lodged by certain businessmen with the economic offences wing of the Mumbai crime branch in connection with the Bombay Bazar scam.
It is alleged that Ranjit Chowdhary and other directors of the company had duped some of the franchisees of the firm, which retails grains, vegetables and other goods. Mr Ranjit Chowdhary and the firm have denied the charge.
Mr T.K. Chowdhary said “vested interests’’ were trying to spoil his chances of becoming the commissioner by levelling baseless allegations against his son. The non-Maharashtrian lobby within the IPS cadre was trying to scuttle his chances, claimed sources close to Mr Chowdhary, who is the only Maharashtrian officer in the race.
Meanwhile, those opposed to the candidature of another aspirant claimed that he was currently involved in a controversy over a multi-crore racket and pointed out that an additional police commissioner working under him had demanded his transfer. The junior officer had also complained to director-general of police S.C. Malhotra. The government had instead transferred the additional commissioner.