Shivanand Jha, new Surat police chief

Gandhinagar, Jun 14: Shivanand Jha took over as the new Surat city police commissioner after the incumbent Deepak Swarup was transferred over his alleged disparaging remarks about a 17-year-old gang rape victim.

Jha, who was serving as the additional director general of police, is also a member of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the post-Godhra riots. The state home department issued transfer orders to Swarup late Saturday, Jun 13 night and immediately offered the charge of Surat city to Shivanand Jha, who took over the same night.

Swarup was transferred for his alleged remarks that the girl, who was gang raped on Friday, Jun 12, succumbed to the demands of the three accused men as they had found her in compromising position with her friend. His remarks led to widespread protests in Surat leading to Swarup's transfer.

He was handed over the orders late Saturday night when he was hosting a party at home entertaining the prominent people of the city. The former police commissioner's new posting is yet to be announced by the state government.

OneIndia News