Mumbai: Police officers declining promotions due to undisclosed income, says activist

The recent promotion list by the Maharashtra Police featured 142 officers elevated to the rank of ACP. File pic/Maharashtra police

Contrary to common belief that everyone wants a promotion, a recent case involving senior police inspectors in Maharashtra and Mumbai challenges this notion. These officers have refused promotions citing a range of personal reasons. According to sources, the reasons include family obligations in Mumbai, concerns about their children's schooling, personal health issues, and deliberate delays in submitting caste certificates to ensure their promotions are postponed.

However, an activist suspects that there could be undisclosed sources of income due to which some of the officers deny promotions, which the government needs to take seriously.

Notably, the recent promotion list by the Maharashtra Police featured 142 officers elevated to the rank of assistant commissioner of police (ACP), with only 104 accepting the promotion, leaving 38 officers across Maharashtra, including nine in Mumbai, who declined the opportunity.

According to sources within the Mumbai police, the position of senior police inspector (PI) is deemed the most influential within the city, as they oversee the entire police station and wield considerable power in their respective areas. Many individuals aspire to hold this position until their retirement. While a promotion to the role of ACP offers increased salary and higher pension benefits, the post is now considered as a ‘side-posting'. The undeniable influence associated with the post of senior PI in the city leads most officers to desire this role till at least two to three months before their retirement.

The Maharashtra Police is looking into the matter of officers declining promotions. File pic/Twitter

Anil Galgali, an RTI activist, stated, "The refusal of senior officers to accept promotions is an established practice in cities like Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai, primarily due to the suspected presence of undisclosed income owing to their influential positions. Given that the role of an ACP offers minimal authority to control the system, it's no surprise that most officers decline these promotions. The government must address this issue seriously by transferring these officers to
alternative positions."

A senior officer in Maharashtra Police confirmed this to mid-day, stating, "There are officers who have rejected their promotions, and the department is currently looking into the matter. However, we must also consider that many of these officers have dedicated their entire careers to serving in Mumbai. Their concerns about receiving an ACP posting in areas outside the city and in rural regions, far from their familiar surroundings, are legitimate."

The officers who declined the promotion shared on the condition of anonymity that a significant number of the ACP positions available are in Nagpur and Amravati. They expressed that having dedicated their careers to Mumbai, transitioning to Nagpur as they approach retirement would pose significant challenges. "Additionally, with our children reaching the final stages of their education, managing two accommodations simultaneously would be strenuous," said an officer.

According to the list provided by the Maharashtra Police, there are 238 vacant posts across the state, with 43 in Nagpur, 36 in Amravati, 36 in Aurangabad, 72 in the Konkan Division, and 30 in Pune. According to government regulations and police circulars, officers have the right to decline promotions. However, the rules also stipulate that officers who refuse promotions must be transferred to a different post and are not allowed to retain the same position despite rejecting the ACP promotion.

Sources have also indicated that some of these officers are under investigation, rendering them ineligible for the promotion due to pending inquiries against them. "I haven't declined any promotion, but due to an ongoing internal inquiry related to an old case, I haven't received the ACP posting orders," an officer stated on the condition of anonymity.

09
No. of officers in Mumbai who have declined ACP posting

142
No. of officers listed for promotion