Under fire from the Centre for ?sharing sensitive investigation details? with the media after the arrest of two alleged terror suspects in Mumbai earlier this month, Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief KP Raghuvanshi was transferred on Thursday and posted as additional director-general of police (law and order). He has been replaced by high-profile officer Rakesh Maria, the joint commissioner of police in charge of the Mumbai Police Crime Branch.
Raghuvanshi?s transfer was accompanied by a top-level reshuffle in Mumbai Police, with joint commissioner of police (law and order) Himanshu Roy named as the new Crime Branch chief to replace Maria, and inspector-general of police Rajnish Seth appointed as the new JCP (law and order).
On March 13, the ATS arrested two alleged terror suspects from Mumbai and claimed to have foiled a plot to launch fresh attacks in the financial capital. Addressing the media after the arrests, Raghuvanshi had said that the two suspects?Abdul Latif Shaikh and Riyaz Ali?had planned to target ONGC tanks in Bandra, Mangaldas Market in South Mumbai and Thakkar Mall in Borivali. Their targets and instructions were allegedly given via phone by handlers believed to be based in Pakistan, one of whom was using the alias ?Uncle?, Raghuvanshi had said.
The Union home ministry was reported to have been upset with information about the Pakistani handlers becoming public. Chief minister Ashok Chavan had last week said that although there was no clear communication about this from the Centre, he was aware that the Centre was unhappy that certain details about the terror investigation had been shared with the media. The state government had also hinted at possible action against Raghuvanshi.
Raghuvanshi, who was given charge of the ATS when it was formed in 2004, was once again appointed to the post on June 11 last year after the Bombay High Court came down heavily on the state government since the force was leaderless following the killing of Hemant Karkare in the 26/11 terror attack. Police sources had then said that Raghuvanshi had reluctantly accepted the post a second time. Maria, on the other hand, was due for promotion for several months now.
?I am very happy with the transfer as I had been requesting the government for it for some time now,? said Raghuvanshi.