MUMBAI: The home department led by NCP leader Dilip Walse Patil has sacked Police Complaint Authority (PCA) member Rajkumar Bhungrao Dhakne in the wake of an adverse report submitted by then director general of police Subodh Jaiswal in August last year.
In a report on August 12, 2020, TOI had written about the pending criminal cases against Dhakne, and also reported about the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation terminating the toll contract to a firm controlled by Dhakne following his appointment to the PCA. As per rules, a public servant is barred from securing a contract for toll collection. MSRDC’s contention was Dhakne came under the purview of public servant following his appointment as a PCA member.
Following a Supreme Court verdict, the PCA was set up on May 15, 2015, to examine complaints against police personnel. The PCA is headed by a retired HC judge, while its members are in the rank of principal secretary.
While Dhakne was appointed PCA member on July 14, 2020 in the category of eminent members of civil society, on July 5, 2021, principal secretary (home) Sanjay Saxena issued a notification on his termination. “The director general of police has submitted to the government that serious criminal cases are pending against Dhakne. Considering the DGP’s report, the government has come to the conclusion that it will be appropriate to terminate the membership of Dhakne. Accordingly, as per the provisions of the Maharashtra Police Rules, the government is terminating the membership of PCA,” Saxena said in his one-page order.
In his report submitted to the government on August 26, 2020, Jaiswal had stated in view of Dhakne’s criminal background, the cases pending against him and the fact that he had escaped when he was under detention, he should not be appointed to the PCA. The report further said his appointment would have a demoralising effect on police officials and would damage the authority’s image.
Jaiswal had said three cases were pending before the courts. The first pertained to an offence registered at Pune airport police station for organising an illegal procession, the second pertained to an attack on a security guard at Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune. In the third case, he was booked for escaping from police detention.
Following the TOI report, leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis had demanded that Dhakne must be sacked forthwith. “It was wrong to appoint persons like Dhakne in organisations like the PCA,” Fadnavis said.
Rajkumar Dhakne did not respond to calls and messages from TOI.
