Two weeks before Maharashtra votes in Assembly polls, the Election Commission has ordered the transfer of Maharashtra DGP Rashmi Shukla, according to sources.
The Opposition, led by the Congress, had alleged that the senior IPS officer was biased towards the ruling Mahayuti alliance and that fair polls wouldn't be possible if she was in the top post.
The poll body has asked Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik to hand over Ms Shukla's charge to the next seniormost IPS officer with immediate effect and send a panel of three names by tomorrow for selection of the next state police chief.
During review meetings and announcement of Assembly polls, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had warned officials to be impartial and fair and ensure that they are perceived as non-partisan in conducting their duties.
"There is a very serious allegation against the state's Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla. In 2019, when our government was being formed, this Director General of Police
"Can we expect her to conduct fair elections? We have said that the reins of elections should not be given to her, and then the Election Commission said that they do not have the right (to transfer).
State Congress chief Nana Patole had written to the Chief Election Commissioner, requesting Ms Shukla's removal from the post of the state police chief.