Slapped by netas in March, Mumbai traffic cop is now shunted out to Sangli on 'punishment posting'.
The Congress-NCP government punished upright traffic police sub-inspector Sachin Suryavanshi on Friday by transferring him to the police training academy in Sangli. His only “crime” was that he had asked an MLA, Kshitij Thakur, to pay a fine for speeding on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link on March 18 this year.
Thakur, who is the son of Virar strongman and former TADA-detenue Hitendra Thakur, was on his way to the legislature in Nariman Point when his car was stopped by Suryavanshi for speeding.
An argument ensued, but Suryavanshi stood his ground and insisted on the MLA paying the fine.
Thakur later got a privilege notice issued to the cop. When Suryavanshi went to Vidhan Bhavan on March 19, following a summons from the deputy chairperson of the legislative council, Vasant Davkhare, he was assaulted by Thakur and four other MLAs — Ram Kadam, Rajan Salvi, Pradeep Jaiswal and Jaykumar Rawal.
The conduct of the MLAs was unprecedented and hence they were suspended from the House on March 20. However, their suspension was revoked on July 24. However, the state home department under RR Patil ordered a departmental inquiry against Suryavanshi since he was accused of “misbehaving with elected representatives and using foul language”. He was placed under suspension, but was taken back in July. Now, even though the inquiry is still on, Suryavanshi has been shunted out to Sangli.
Director general of police Sanjeev Dayal issued the highly controversial transfer order. Joint commissioner (traffic) Vivek Phansalkar claimed that Suryavanshi had asked for a transfer to his hometown Sangli. Suryavanshi was not available for comment, but sources close to him said that he had been punished, although only on August 2, he was promoted as assistant police inspector.
The harsh attitude of the home department towards the officer created huge resentment in police circles. Many compared his allegedly mala fide transfer to that of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal of Uttar Pradesh.
“The Maharashtra government wants to convey a message to all cops by punishing Suryavanshi,’’ a senior police inspector observed. Reacting to Suryavanshi’s transfer, Julio Rebeiro, former police commissioner of Mumbai, said: “If this transfer has been done on the request of Suryavanshi, then there is no ground for complaining. However, if this is punitive action, then we should all fight against it as the politicians are trying to prove that they have more power over law than the law enforcers. In such a situation, this message should not be accepted.”
Activist Dr GR Vora said, “The transfer is outrageous. It is absurd that the MLAs who attacked Suryavanshi have been left untouched, but an officer who performed his duty is being punished. This is most unacceptable.”
Lawyer and former IPS officer YP Singh, however, said the transfer appears to be the result of an “understanding” between the government and Suryavanshi.
But then, the explanation being offered by the police department clearly begs the question of why would any police officer want a transfer to a training academy which is widely considered as a punishment posting.
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