I had zero-tolerance coverage for officers with crime syndicate hyperlinks: Ex-Maharashtra Police Commissioner

Former Mumbai Police Commissioner and Maharashtra DGP Anami Narayan Roy speaks to The Indian Express about his expertise of dealing with “encounter specialists” and the connection of the police and political order within the state.
Can you elaborate your strategy in coping with rogue cops throughout your tenure because the chief of Mumbai Police and Maharashtra Police?
I used to be introduced in because the Mumbai Police commissioner at a delicate time, quickly after the Telgi rip-off and arrest and suspension of many cops. The loss of life of bomb blast accused Khwaja Yunus in police custody was one other critical controversy through which Sachin Waze amongst others was embroiled and positioned beneath suspension. A petition was pending within the courtroom towards a number of alleged “fake” encounter killings. I had a zero-tolerance coverage for officers having any reference to the underworld/organised crime syndicates.
Once, on figuring out a few cosy cellphone dialog between an inspector, Aslam Momin, and a member of the Dawood Ibrahim household, which was on report in one of many MCOCA case papers, I dismissed him (Momin) the identical evening, utilizing powers beneath Article 311(2) of the Constitution in 2005. He may by no means come again to the service. Later, because the Maharashtra DGP, I dismissed a proposal obtained from Mumbai Police officer Pradeep Sharma, once more utilizing the identical provision of the Constitution. All these actions I took introduced nice opposition for me from all quarters. I used to be questioned by the media and the legislature. But I remained steadfast with my actions and selections.
Did you obtain any criticism towards suspended API Sachin Waze whenever you have been the chief of Mumbai Police and Maharashtra Police? If sure, how did you cope with Waze?
I had suspended Waze in March 2004 as he had been arrested within the custodial loss of life case of Khwaja Yunus.
As the chief of Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra DGP, how did you cope with the so known as “encounter specialists” like Waze, Sharma and Daya Nayak amongst others within the pressure and what’s your view on them?
The officers, often called “encounter specialists”, have been very courageous and had developed a robust community of informants. This certainly is an asset for any police organisation. These capabilities have to be utilised in bigger public curiosity and in attaining the organisational objectives. It is the accountability of the pressure leaders to make sure that these sources will not be abused or misused, definitely not for any private beneficial properties. Of course, there have been complaints and incidents of misuse and abuse of the sources, which introduced a foul title to people and the pressure. However, you can not lose sight of the truth that these personnel had introduced a giant aid to town when the underworld had surfaced in Mumbai massive time.
How did you retain a examine to make sure that alleged criminals will not be killed in pretend encounters?
To me, encounter is not any authorized time period. What is popularly now understood by an encounter is the killing of a felony/particular person by police. Law empowers police to make use of vital pressure, not excluding firing, towards an individual/accused or suspected of getting dedicated against the law or more likely to commit against the law even inflicting loss of life of an individual/felony throughout any police operation/motion. So, my view on encounters has at all times been very clear and unequivocal that in any operation any police particular person can shoot or use the required pressure towards any felony, if met with violence. This could be performed by any police officer. No specialists are required for this nor can it’s a deliberate and recognized.
Did any encounter specialist or politician ever contact you immediately or not directly making an attempt to make use of their political affect to get plum postings in Mumbai Police or Maharashtra Police?
No encounter specialist ever approached me immediately or not directly for any posting/switch or cancelling the identical. Senior politicians have despatched/made requests for sure transfers to make/cancel them. But I used to be very agency and ruthless about these. Transfers have been all performed by a committee of all senior officers, very transparently beneath a well-announced coverage/parameters made recognized to all. Thereafter, there have been no adjustments made.
I had no issues concerning this, nor had I any hesitation in saying no to any politician. Under a really professionally designed clear coverage of switch and placement for officers, these specialists, who have been working in sure posts and branches solely for a few years past permissible guidelines of tenures and so forth, have been transferred to police stations and different locations like all others. No particular therapy was given to anybody, together with those that had political or some other patronage. These have been shock to some, together with politicians and sure particular officers however in any other case appreciated by the pressure. By imposing the traditional insurance policies of the police division and govt, all particular therapy was withdrawn and the bigger than life profile was introduced down.
During your tenure, did you come throughout any expertise or complaints the place politicians, as alleged by former police commissioner Param Bir Singh towards Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, to place stress in your subordinate officers to gather funds from resorts, bars and institutions? How did you cope with such points?
There was no occasion or event of any politicians making any demand, placing stress on any police officer to gather cash. The very concept is abhorrent to me. In any case, it was made very clear that no junior officer would go to any minister even when known as with out searching for orders/permission from the CP. It was solely the CP, who may determine which officer would go for which assembly relying on the topic. So, the query raised now could be utterly international to me. I can’t actually perceive and reply.