31 January,2016 08:40 AM IST | | Vijay Kumar Yadav
As Ahmad Javed retires, 58-year-old Additional director, Intelligence Bureau (IB) Dattatray D Padsalgikar returns to Mumbai to take charge as the new commissioner of Mumbai Police
Dattatray Padsalgikar
Additional director, Intelligence Bureau (IB) Dattatray D Padsalgikar, 58, is the new commissioner of Mumbai Police. The state government on Saturday announced Padsalgikar's appointment; Ahmad Javed, after his short service as the present CP, retires on January 31, and has been posted as the new ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
Additional director Dattatray Padsalgikar (centre) gets felicitated as new commisioner of Mumbai Police
Javed was appointed as commissioner on September 8, 2015, replacing Rakesh Maria after questions were raised over the latter's role in the Sheena Bora murder case investigation. The state government, however, dismissed that suggestion.
Padsalgikar, a 1982-batch Maharashtra-Cadre IPS officer, is the 40th police commissioner of Mumbai. Talking to SUNDAY mid-day, the force's new chief said, "I am happy to become Commissioner of Police (Mumbai). It is good to be back to Mumbai." The senior officer, who is known to keep a low profile, maintained his reaction in brief, and said, "I will speak about my priorities and plans after officially taking the charge."
Javed tweets goodbye: âI thank Mumbaikars for their cooperation and good wishes. Do continue to co-operate with Police to keep the city safe. Keep tweeting!' This is what Commissioner of Mumbai Police tweeted to his followers as he retired from the post yesterday. He is seen jumping out of a police jeep at Naigaon Police Ground, yesterday. Pic/Atul Kamble
Padsalgikar has done two long stints with the Intelligence Bureau (IB) for more than a decade. After the state government finalised his name with consent from the Center, the senior officer returned to the state police cadre in mid-January.
Controversy-free
Many senior officers in the state police believe that Padsalgikar's appointment will be the best thing for the state government, as he is not only one of the senior-most officers in the state, but also has a non-controversial image.
Former IPS officer, YP Singh, who was from the 1985 IPS batch, but took early retirement, said that the blame-game, which goes on between the Center and the state agencies after any terror incident should now stop and the level of confidence and co-ordination between the two agencies shall definitely improve. "Considering his knowledge and experience in state and central agencies I think he can contribute a lot to the Mumbai police in terms of maintaining law and order and combating terrorism," said Singh.
Rank shifts
The post of commissioner was upgraded to the DGP rank with the appointment of Ahmad Javed. With Padsalgikar, an ADG rank officer, being made the new CP, the commissioner's post is now downgraded from the DGP rank. Additional Chief secretary (home) KP Bakshi said, "The post of Commissioner of Police, Mumbai stands downgraded to the rank of Additional Director General of Police."
Ahmad Javed was given a farewell on Saturday morning at Naigaon police ground by the city police force.
He is soon likely to take charge of his new responsibility as the Indian envoy in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has already cleared his appointment and the post is presently vacant.
Javed will hand over the charge of Mumbai police commissioner to Padsalgikar on Sunday afternoon at the commissioner's office, Crawford market. Padsalgikar will retire from service in August 2018.
