Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, May 17: In a major shake-up of the state police force, the Maharashtra government on Friday appointed senior IPS officer Arti Singh as Mumbai’s first Joint Commissioner of Police (Intelligence), marking the creation of a sixth Joint CP post in the city dedicated to intelligence gathering.

A 2006-batch officer, Singh’s elevation comes after the Special Commissioner post was downgraded from the ADG rank to facilitate the new intelligence-focused role.

As part of the reshuffle, around a dozen DIG-rank officers were transferred while 14 SPs were promoted to DIG, said a senior official.

Among the key transfers, Anil Paraskar, previously Additional CP of Mumbai’s Central Region, has been moved to the Protection and Security department. Vinita Sahu, who held that post, has now been assigned to Local Arms.

Shailesh Balkawade, who was Additional CP (Crime) in Pune, has taken over the same position in Mumbai. Shashi Kumar Meena has been posted as Additional CP (North Region), while Pravin Patil from Pune has been transferred as Additional CP to Nagpur.

Pramod Shewale, formerly Additional CP in Nagpur, is now DIG in the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). S T Rathod has been shifted from Nagpur to the Anti-Narcotics Task Force as DIG.

Pune Additional CP Arvind Chawariya has been appointed as Amravati police commissioner, though the post has been downgraded. Meanwhile, Rakesh Kalasagar is now Mumbai Railway Police Commissioner.

Ratnagiri SP Dhananjay Kulkarni has been promoted to Additional CP (Special Branch) in Mumbai, and Nashik Rural SP Vikram Deshmane will serve as Additional CP of Mumbai’s Central Region.

Rajendra Dabhade, previously SP for Protection of Civil Rights, has been promoted and posted as Additional CP in Nagpur.