A book by former Mumbai Police commissioner Rakesh Maria has been making news ever since it was released on Monday. In Let Me Say It Now, Maria refers to a number of experiences in his career such as his interrogation of Mumbai attacks terrorist Ajmal Kasab. However, the episode that has raised the most debate appears to be the Sheena Bora murder case.
Maria had written in Let Me Say it Now that he was transferred by the Devendra Fadnavis government on 8 September, 2015, a day after he interrogated Peter Mukerjea, Sheena Bora's stepfather and an accused in the case. Maria writes in his book that he was informed about his transfer by K.P. Bakshi, then additional chief secretary (home) in Maharashtra, via a text message.
Bakshi has now come out with a 'clarification' on the incident. Speaking to news agency ANI, Bakshi claimed the move to transfer Maria was a government decision. “Yes, I informed him (Maria) via SMS that he has been promoted to DG (Home Guards) and that was a government decision. Later, we sent him an official letter too," Bakshi told ANI.
Bakshi told ANI that he had asked Maria to continue the probe in the Sheena Bora case, but the latter "showed no willingness".
Bakshi also played down claims by Maria in his book that IPS officer Ahmed Javed knew Peter Mukerjea. Ahmed Javed succeeded Maria as Mumbai Police commissioner.
Bakshi argued, "Bureaucrats do meet in parties and events. It has nothing to do with this case." Interestingly, Maria had written that Peter Mukerjea had confessed that he had told about Sheena Bora's disappearance to IPS officer Deven Bharti in 2012. Maria writes Bharti had never told him about being acquainted with Peter Mukerjea.
Political sparring
Not surprisingly, the claims by Rakesh Maria in Let Me Say It Now are having political repercussions. Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh told reporters on Wednesday, “We will gather information about what Rakesh Maria has written in his book. We will speak to him and try to know about the incident that took place during Devendra Fadnavis's rule and allegations against him. We will order probe if the need arises.”