Pune, Apr 20 (PTI) Satara Superintendent of Police Tushar Doshi, whose role in the ruckus involving the BJP and Shiv Sena-NCP during the Zilla Parishad president’s election was criticised by junior allies in Mahayuti, was among the nine SP-rank IPS officers transferred by the government on Monday.
Incidentally, the order was issued by the Maharashtra Home Department, hours before Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s rally in Satara in the evening.
A row erupted a month ago when Shiv Sena leaders from Satara accused the local police of manhandling them during the poll to elect the Satara ZP president, who belongs to the BJP.
Ministers Shambhuraj Desai (Shiv Sena) and Makarand Patil (Nationalist Congress Party) had alleged the local police had manhandled them during the poll held on March 20 to elect the Satara ZP president.
Subsequently, Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe ordered Doshi’s suspension over the allegations.
However, council chairman Ram Shinde later said that Gorhe’s order to suspend Doshi over the poll ruckus would be forwarded to legal and constitutional experts for their opinion, after which a ruling would follow.
On Monday, the Home Department transferred Doshi to Sangli as its new Superintendent of Police, replacing Sandeep Ghuge, who has been transferred to the State Intelligence Department (SID) in Mumbai. Nikhil Pingle, who was serving as a DCP in Pune City, will replace Doshi in Satara.
Among eight other officers, Gadchiroli SP Nilotpal, who played a key role in significantly weakening the Naxalite network, has been transferred to Kolhapur district as its superintendent of police. Gadchiroli’s Additional SP M Ramesh has been promoted to SP of the district.
Kolhapur SP Yogesh Gupta has been transferred on promotion as the DIG, Gadchiroli range.
Jalgaon superintendent of police, M Maheshwar Reddy, has been transferred as SP, CID, in Pune. He will be replaced by Dhule SP Shrikant Dhiware, who has been moved to Jalgaon.
Pune DCP, Rajkumar Shinde, has been transferred as SP of Washim.
Addressing a rally in Satara, Shinde on Monday said whatever happened in the district was “low standard politics”.
He said when a karyakata (party worker) is insulted, the Shivsainik in him awakens, and everyone knows what happens afterwards.
“A low-standard politics was played here, and the people of Satara will not tolerate it. I will speak (on this) at an appropriate time,” Shinde said, slamming the BJP without naming it.
Noting that Satara is a land that preserves tradition and culture, Shinde said, adding that such behaviour won’t be tolerated.
BJP’s Priya Shinde was elected as the Satara ZP president, trumping the Shiv Sena-NCP combine’s candidate despite the two parties having a majority in the local body. The BJP narrowly surpassed the Sena-NCP alliance’s tally to win the top post.
Shinde had expressed displeasure over the incident.
On Monday, the Shiv Sena chief said he is straightforward and “very good at settling scores”.
Shinde added that his approach is positive, practical, and constructive, emphasising that he doesn’t spare anyone who provokes him.
Shinde said it is necessary to take care of party workers as they are the ones who can make anybody an MLA, MP, and even the chief minister.
He said Shambhuraj Desai had informed him that Shiv Sena’s councillors had performed well in the recently-concluded Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls.
“In the last ZP elections, Shiv Sena had only three members, but today, we have 15 members. Similarly, 30 members have been elected to the Panchayat Samiti. We also have 39 corporators,” he said.
He said whoever becomes the president of the Satara Zilla Parishad is secondary, adding that Shiv Sena rules the hearts.
“Once I make a promise, I do not go back on it. Power may come and go, but if an image is tarnished, it can’t be restored. The land of Satara has chosen to strengthen Shiv Sena, and that is why I have come here to appreciate you. We need dedicated party workers like you,” Shinde added.
He felicitated Shiv Sena members of the ZP, Panchayat Samiti and municipal corporation. PTI SPK DC PR NSK
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