Mumbai:
Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan today approved the
recommendation of the city police commissionerate to suspend five
police officers, including Deputy Commissioner of Police V N Salve
and Assistant Commissioner of Police Prakash Wani for allegedly
attending a party hosted by underworld don Chota Rajan gang members
in suburban Chembur last week.
Following Chavan's approval all the officers
will be placed under suspension from today and will face a
departmental probe.
Meanwhile, according to a report from Pune,
Chavan told mediaperson after a function there that detailed probe
will be carried out before taking any action against the officers.
He also said that strict action will be taken
against the suspended officers if they are found guilty. He
expressed his concern over the incident, involving top officials,
which has created a bad name for the police department.
Government has demanded an explanation as to
why action should not be taken against them, he said.
Police Commissioner D Sivanandan had sent a
proposal yesterday to the state goverment recommending suspension of
the five police officers, who allegedly attended the Christmas party
reportedly organised on behest of Rajan's close aid D K Rao.
The suspended police officers also include
Senior Police Inspector of Anti-Extortion Cell (Thane) A Khalatkar,
Senior Police Inspector T Kakkad and Constable Salunkhe.
According to police manual, services of these
cops could be terminated if found guilty after the probe.
Police said they have the photographic and CCTV
footage as proof against the officals.
Rao, who was the chief guest in the party, was
released recently after 13-years of imprisonment. The Party was also
attended by Farid Tanasha and Sunil Poddar, who have criminal
records against them.