IPS Transfer Case Gets Curiouser As Former Maharashtra Chief Secretary Lobs Ball In CBI Chief’s Court

Former Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte, now a principal advisor to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, has deftly lobbed the ball in the court of CBI chief Subodh Jaiswal in the curious case of IPS transfers unearthed by erstwhile state intelligence department head Rashmi Shukla.  A senior secretariat official said Kunte, recorded his statement before the Enforcement Directorate and placed on record actions taken by him as then additional chief secretary (home) of Maharashtra. Then Director-General of police, Subhodh Jaiswal (now CBI chief) had written to Kunte following Shukla’s expose using eavesdropped conversations that indicated money exchanged hands for effecting IPS postings. Kunte clearly stated his position as home secretary and clarified, “The DG (Jaiswal) had raised two to three concerns regarding the IPS transfers (15 in all) and immediately the Chief Minister froze all the transfers. Once the cited concerns were addressed the transfers (remaining 12) were effected while three in respect of which Jaiswal expressed concerns were canceled,” the secretariat official told Short Post. Meanwhile, Shulka (on deputation in Hyderabad) is yet to appear before the Maharashtra cyber cell regarding the leakage of a pen drive containing conversations she is alleged to have eavesdropped upon following which the allegations of IPS transfers for cash were made.