Patil defends Raghuvanshi against ''anti-Muslim'' allegations

Mumbai, Feb 15 (PTI) Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patiltoday defended Thane Police Commissioner K P Raghuvanshi overallegations against him for being ''anti-Muslim''.

"Raghuvanshi was not well and was on leave but now he hastaken the charge as Thane Police Commissioner," Patil toldreporters here.

There were reports in the media that Raghuvanshi''sappointment attracted flak from Muslims, with allegations ofhim being ''anti-Muslim'', prompting him to go on leave soonafter taking charge. In Raghuvanshi''s absence, head of thehighway police Arup Patnaik was given additional charge.

Some Muslim organisations even protested againstRaghuvanshi in Thane for "wrongly framing Muslim youths" intwo blasts cases including the Malegaon blast probe, when hewas chief of Anti Terrorism Squad.

Rubbishing such allegations, Patil said "many officersare termed as anti-Muslim or anti-Hindu. But in a state likeMaharashtra, work would be done secularly by police."

Patil also asked the Director General of Police (DGP) DSivanandhan to submit a report on allegations made by SureshKhopade, Special Inspector General (crime investigationdepartment), who wrote a letter referring to top policeofficials, which attracted a lot of criticism.

"The DGP would look into the matter and about anygrievances Khopade has. He would submit a report to me on theissue," Patil said.