MUMBAI: It was CM
Devendra Fadnavis himself who unearthed the sensational
cash-for-transfers scam
involving a high-ranking
Mahananda dairy official
and a few private persons, it has emerged.
"I too have my own sources and information network. When I was told a senior government official and a few private persons were in search of senior police officials who were prepared to pay a high amount for choice postings, I immediately alerted the state intelligence as well as the crime branch. Both units have successfully probed the scam and arrested the key operators," Fadnavis told TOI.
Earlier this week
Vidyasagar Hirmukhe, general manager of state-run
Mahananda
and three others were held for extorting money from policemen by promising them the transfers they desired.
A senior IPS officer said in the last week of March, Fadnavis received specific inputs on the scam, prompting him to direct joint commissioner (crime) Sanjay Saxena and intelligence commissioner Sanjay Barve to step in and take the probe to its logical end. During routine verification of officials due for transfers in April-May, it was found that they were approached by Hirmukhe and one Kishore Mali.
Since Hirmukhe had earlier been private secretary to then minister of state for home Sindharam Mhetre, a Solapur-based Congress leader, he was fully aware of the transfer exercise and movement of files. "Senior officials looking for a posting of choice for a rice believed that since Hirmukhe had taken the responsibility, they would certainly get the desired posting," the officer said.
Hirmukhe and Mali had identified over half-a-dozen senior officials looking for prime assignments. "We found the duo was in constant touch with these officials and were negotiating the rate for transfer. It ranged from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. We monitored the activities of these officials and and Hirmukhe and Mali," the IPS officer said.
Even as the probe was in progress, the police found the scamsters had negotiated with a Solapur-based cop for his posting in Mumbai. "The police officer did not succumb but approached the crime branch with information on the cash-for-transfers scam. We examined his call data records, verified the information given by him and registered a criminal case against Hirmukhe, Mali and three others," he said. The IPS officer said the entire exercise was a big challenge before the crime branch and the intelligence wing in view of the fact that the tip-off had come from the CM himself.
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