IPS officer Vijay Kamble finally takes charge as Thane Police Commissioner

Thane: Senior IPS officer Vijay Kamble on Tuesday took charge as Thane Police Commissioner, ending his protest after being ignored for the post of Mumbai police chief.

The 1980-batch officer reportedly went on leave yesterday in protest against the appointment of his junior Rakesh Maria (1981 batch) as Mumbai Police Commissioner last weekend.

Kamble, previously Additional Director General (Highways), late this evening took charge of his new post succeeding K P Raghuvanshi.

Joint Commissioner of Police Bipin Kumar Singh welcomming to new Thane Commissioner of Police Vijay Kamble. Pic/SAMEER MARKANDE

Maharashtra Government had on Monday defended its decision to appoint Maria to the high-profile post for which another officer Javed Ahmed (1979 batch) was also in the race.

Home Minister R R Patil had said there was no dissatisfaction among officers over Maria's appointment or ground for disgruntlement. He had hoped the transferred officers will join their new postings.

According to reports, Patil convinced Kamble to take up the new posting and the latter acceded.

Talking to the media after taking charge, Kamble sidestepped questions related to his reported protest.

Asked why there was a delay in taking charge of the new assignment, Kamble said his leave of Monday was planned in advance and he had gone to Kolhapur with his family and returned today.

He simply nodded his head in response to media queries over the issue of his latest appointment and the row surrounding it.

Kamble said he would hold discussions with his officers soon to get himself acquainted with the Thane commissionerate.

The IPS officer had earlier served in Thane as Joint Commissioner. He was also Navi Mumbai police chief.