Mumbai cops cry for caste panel, ACB posting

Once seen as a side posting, an appointment in the anti corruption bureau (ACB) is now the second-most sought-after one for police officers. The most number of requests by officers during the ‘transfer season’ were for postings in the caste verification committee, followed by the ACB. 

Miffed with this latest trend, home minister RR Patil last week announced that the officers transferred to the ACB will be appointed only after verification of their track record. He also asked the bureau the number of its officers found guilty in any offence since its inception in 1943. “Or you think there are no black sheep at all,” he asked sarcastically. 

An official from the department said that the officers give top priority to appointment in the caste verification committees formed on the district and tehsil level. He said that the percentage of bribes and ‘financial consideration’ offered is high in both, the committee as well as the ACB, and hence requests for postings in these two are the highest. 

Patil is reportedly upset over one of his trusted officer, Haris Baijal, moving the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT) against his transfer from superintendent of police, ACB, in Nashik, to deputy commissioner of police in Thane. The MAT has stayed the order on the ground that his three-year term is not yet complete.