Rashmi Shukla case in Maharashtra: IPS officer pressured MLA to align with BJP, says Minister

IPS officer Rashmi Shukla herself may have `leaked' her confidential letter on alleged corruption in transfers in the Maharashtra police department, state chief secretary Sitaram Kunte has said in his `fact- finding' report.

Kunte had been asked to submit a report by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray after BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis alleged that the state government suppressed Shukla's letter or report, based on phone intercepts, on a `transfer scam'.

"Despite stamping the letter as TOP SECRET, Rashmi Shukla seems to have leaked the letter, which is very serious matter. If it is proved, she will be liable for strictest action against her," Kunte's report, which was made public, said.

"She had intercepted the phone calls and exposing these names also threatened the privacy of the officials," Kunte said.

The transfers mentioned in Shukla's letter, however, did not actually take place, and "there is no misdeed in transfers as well," said the chief secretary.

Referring to speculation about more data in a pen drive, Kunte said there was no accompanying pen drive when Shukla sent her letter to the state government.

"Prima facie, it appears that the letter has been leaked by Shukla herself," Kunte said.

He also claimed that Shukla had sought permission to tap some phone calls saying it was needed "in the interest of public safety", but she misled the state government.

Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Jitendra Awhad on Thursday alleged IPS officer Rashmi Shukla, who is at the centre of a phone tapping controversy, had pressured Independent MLAs into not joining hands with the Maha Vikas Aghadi combine that aimed to keep the BJP out of power post Assembly polls in 2019.

Awhad alleged "some officials like Shukla were acting as BJP agents" and claimed the MVA government did not act against her on "humanitarian grounds" as she had asked for "forgiveness".

“Rajendra Yedravkar, independent MLA from Shirol {Kolhapur} was forced by Rashmi Shukla to oppose MVA and be with BJP was it her job… under wat authority did she act,” NCP leader and Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad tweeted.

With PTI inputs