Mumbai:
A N Roy has been reappointed Director General of Police (DGP) in Maharashtra.
Roy was the DGP of the state during the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. He was removed in February 2009 after a Mumbai High Court order ruled that his appointment was invalid. Roy's appointment as DGP had been challenged in court by other officers who were upset over being superseded by Roy.
Roy was then replaced by S S Virk, whose term expired three months ago. This crucial post in a state which is an established terror target remained vacant because the Congress and its coalition partner, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) couldn't agree on who should fill it. Roy is considered close to Sharad Pawar's NCP which controls the Home Department; Roy's appointment proves Pawar's men got their way.
Roy and former Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor were both included in the report of the Pradhan Committee, which examined the role of police officers during 26/11. While Gafoor was indicted for lack of leadership, Roy was praised. The Committee said although he had "no operational responsibility", he provided advice and assistance to senior police officers while respecting the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Police in Mumbai, and of other senior officers.
RR Patil, who was the state's Home Minister during 26/11, has also returned to his post after the Maharashtra elections were won late last year by the Congress-NCP alliance. Patil had to step down after the 26/11 attacks.
Now that he's back in the police chief's office, Roy's greatest challenge will be to combat groupism in the force - which earlier cost him his job.
Roy was the DGP of the state during the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. He was removed in February 2009 after a Mumbai High Court order ruled that his appointment was invalid. Roy's appointment as DGP had been challenged in court by other officers who were upset over being superseded by Roy.
Roy was then replaced by S S Virk, whose term expired three months ago. This crucial post in a state which is an established terror target remained vacant because the Congress and its coalition partner, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) couldn't agree on who should fill it. Roy is considered close to Sharad Pawar's NCP which controls the Home Department; Roy's appointment proves Pawar's men got their way.
Roy and former Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor were both included in the report of the Pradhan Committee, which examined the role of police officers during 26/11. While Gafoor was indicted for lack of leadership, Roy was praised. The Committee said although he had "no operational responsibility", he provided advice and assistance to senior police officers while respecting the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Police in Mumbai, and of other senior officers.
RR Patil, who was the state's Home Minister during 26/11, has also returned to his post after the Maharashtra elections were won late last year by the Congress-NCP alliance. Patil had to step down after the 26/11 attacks.
Now that he's back in the police chief's office, Roy's greatest challenge will be to combat groupism in the force - which earlier cost him his job.
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