OFF THE RECORD reviews on some of the headlines…
- IPS
These days whosoever posted in Mumbai as IPS officers have heaved a huge sigh of relief. Believe me when I say this, all senior officers for the last couple of months knew that the return of Rashmi Shukla was inevitable, but none of them wanted her as their boss. Few had already begun the talks in the corridors of power to get a side posting or contemplating on taking a long holiday. I was shocked when Commissioner of Police Mumbai, Vivek Phansalkar, was given the additional charge of the DGP Maharashtra. Here in Maharashtra once an additional charge is given, it assumed that the additional charge will be their main charge soon and the rumour that she is coming back as the CP Mumbai, had quickened a lot of heartbeats. People who were lobbying for Nagpur, Pune, Nashik in the last couple of months were sure that Rashmi Shukla won’t come back as the DGP as she herself was interested in becoming the Commissioner of Mumbai, claimed few newspapers and so called intellectuals of the Police department, remember na? I think only Journalist cum Astrologer Prashant Koratkar’s Panchang calculations came right? 😜😄 Tables turned and Rashmi Shukla came back to Maharashtra but as the DGP Maharashtra. The Mumbai police including senior IPS officers are now dancing like there is no tomorrow as they wouldn’t report to her now. In the meanwhile, they forget the biggest of them is also equally tough to report too–ACS-Home Sujata Saunik. Yes, even today, officers think twice before entering her cabin. So my dear IPS officers of entire Maharashtra– now it is Idhar Khaayi Aur Udhar Kuwaan !!
Why are people so scared of these two iron ladies? Aree forget policemen, even the politicians like the Thackeray’s and Pawar’s will be in jeopardy seeing these ladies take up important assignments just before elections. Reason of the fear is simple–They have instilled fear due to their no nonsense attitude and are disciplined when it comes to getting work done. Rashmi Shukla is like that injured tiger. The horrors of the phone tapping case have haunted her a lot but I am sure she will give her best shot at this post before hanging her boots. People said that with her strict policing she might cause problems to the current government too, but I have my doubts on that. Devendra Fadnavis is too good for all this. This time she will have her head over her shoulders. Now we might see the rise of Deven Bharti too who otherwise is taking things extremely slowly and cautiously. Both he and Phansalkar share a good rapport and because of this rapport, Mumbai was safe and secure in spite of being in the middle of a political storm and not to forget, the festivities and continuous threats.
Those who have completed 3 years will be changed along with the non-performers. Nagpur and Pune will see new CP’s. Ashutosh Dumbre has finally got Thane and he along with the CM have already drafted a 3 month action plan for the city (Thane) just before orders of Dumbre were flashed. One last point on the IPS….Aree people, who were lobbying for the Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner seat, please understand Milind Bharambe is there to stay. Someone told me in between that Milind has applied for a 3 month holiday and wants to spend time with family for personal reasons. It was a rumour floating and because of that rumour the gym time of otherwise silent Bharambe has increased three fold. He is very much here and is all set to welcome PM Modi along with everyone for the inauguration of the MTHL.
2. IAS
Few days back I had written about why Manoj Saunik was not given an extension and BJP had played a role when Centre had asked for it. Even if my information was not fully wrong, I would like to add that an ‘outsider’ too (not a politician or a party or bureaucracy) had influenced Delhi against giving extension to Saunik. Now that he is no longer the Chief Secretary and Dr Nitin Kareer is here to stay for long, the luggage shifted to Nagpur CS bunglow (next to CP Lawns) will have to be called back as no one thought that Sanuik will be NOT given an extension. Double Kharcha 😔
3. Higher Education Department–ye Kya Ho Raha Hai….
Heard in the Higher and Technical Education department a lot is going on and the Minister Chandrakant Dada Patil is kept in the dark. “Vikas” is on “Rode, sorry (read) road” at least in this department and corruption is at peak. I request Chandrakant dada and his team to immediately pay attention in this department. Professors who are temporary for a good 10 to 15 years now, are asked an amount of Rs. 50/60 lakhs to get permanent. An associate professor was set to retire in February 2024. But he was transferred as Joint Director in MMR and a lot of money exchanged hands just for the period of 3 months of his service that remained. Imagine, to recover the money, now in 3 months how much this Joint Director will make? Teaching is a noble job for professors and most of them come from a very humble background; now to collect this type of money just to get permanent is out of syllabus for most of them. A periodical in Maharashtra by the name “Maharashtra Kranti’ has exposed how Joint Director Dr Prakash Bacchav along with Mane and all are making/made merry. One Dr Shialendra Deolankar is now appointed as the Director of Higher Education. Dhanraj Mane, the earlier permanent director appointed by the MPSC, was removed to accommodate Deolankar. Dr Shailendra Deolankar whom I know as OSD to Vinod Tawde during 2014-19 was expert in coming on TV and discussing India and its enemies. Ye Kaunse field mein aa gaye Deolankar Saab? At least if you have come, be accessible and give justice to the post.
Vikrant Hemant Joshi.
