Massive reshuffle in Maha police force on cards

Mumbai, Feb 24 (PTI) Maharashtra police force willwitness a major reshuffle in the next few days with top IPSofficers including Director General of Police (DGP) DSivanandan retiring on February 28 and Mumbai Police chiefSanjeev Dayal expected to be promoted as DG (Housing).

As Sivanandan himself is reluctant for an extension, theHome department is mulling to appoint Director General (HomeGuards) Ajit Parasnis to the top post, sources said.

59-year-old Parasnis of the 1976 batch is the seniormostofficer in the state and according to sources, "as of now,Home department is in favour handing over the responsibilitiesof the state police to him."

On seniority list, Parasnis is followed by K Subramaniam,DG (Anti Corruption) and Pankaj Gupta, Additional DG (Planningand Co-ordination). Both are 1976 batch IPS officers.

Home Minister R R Patil will be meeting Chief MinisterPrithviraj Chavan tomorrow where the issue of appointing newstate police chief would come for discussion.

The names of Additional DGs Arup Patnaik (HighwayTraffic) and Satyapal Singh (Establishments) of 1979 and 1980batch respectively are doing rounds for the post of MumbaiPolice Commissioner whereas current City Police chief SanjeevDayal of Additional Director General rank (1977 batch) islikely to be promoted as DG (Housing), after the post was leftvacant following the retirement of P P Srivastava.

"Patnaik has an upper hand over Singh as the latterhad a tussle with former minister of state for Home RameshBagwe. During his posting as Chief at Pune Commissionerate, abomb blast occurred in German Bakery," the source added.

MLA Bagwe was caught in controversy after Pune policeheld up the renewal of his passport because of his allegedcriminal background. Bagwe''s spat with Singh lasted for a fewmonths following which Bagwe had even announced Singh''stransfer.