Rakesh Maria's abrupt transfer as Mumbai's police chief in the middle of the high-profile Sheena Bora murder investigation came just three days after a telling comment by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Mr Fadnavis had questioned the heavy duty focus on the case and said that the police should devote similar attention to other cases that are not in the spotlight.
Rakesh Maria, a veteran of prominent investigations, had personally interrogated the three accused - Sheena Bora's mother Indrani Mukerjea, her step-father and a driver - for long hours, and making another exception, also briefed the media. Hours before his removal, he had questioned Indrani Mukerjea's husband, TV tycoon Peter Mukerjea.
Mr Maria, however, decided to go to the police station and handle the questioning himself because he was reportedly told that the accused were "high profile, not cooperating and speaking in hi-fi English."
Sources close to Mr Maria said he was expecting a promotion but when it came 22 days too early, he was surprised and upset.
Sources say the working relationship between Mr Maria and the chief minister had been patchy since Mr Fadnavis took charge last year.
More recently, Mr Maria was asked by Mr Fadnavis to explain his meeting with corruption accused former IPL boss Lalit Modi last year.
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