Amitabh Rajan may be new Maharashtra home secretary

Senior bureaucrat Amitabh Rajan (of 1979 IAS batch) is likely to be appointed as the new home secretary of Maharashtra after senior bureaucrat Umesh Chandra Sarangi retired last month, Mantralaya sources said.

At present, additional chief secretary (public health) JK Banthia holds the additional charge of the home department.

Others in reckoning to succeed Sarangi were JS Saharia (1978 batch) and Swadhin Kshatriya (1980 batch), sources said.

Rajan has been on Central deputation since November 11, 2010. Saharia is now additional chief secretary (relief and rehabilitation), while Kshatriya is the additional chief secretary (revenue department).

The state government recently promoted three principal secretaries, including Rajan, Kshatriya and TC Benjamin as additional chief secretaries.

Last month, the Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet approved the assignment of additional charge of the post of Director of Enforcement, Directorate of Enforcement under the Department of Revenue to Rajan, now based in Delhi.