Bending rules from the service rule book the Election Commission on Monday advised the state government that Rakesh Maria can be appointed as the police commissioner of Mumbai, even though it is his hometown. 

 

The election body had earlier in its order dated January 9 had prohibited appointment of an officer in his home district, but now it has granted exemption for Maria. A month ago, the home department wrote to the chief electoral officer of the state, Nitin Gadre, asking for the exemption. Gadre then wrote to the Election Commission of India, explaining the facts of the case.

 

This has left bitterness in the mouth of other contenders for the post. Maria not only studied in Mumbai but had also specified the city as his home district while appearing for the UPSC examinations.“It is a dream come true for this Bandra boy who used to kick football in the lanes of Bandra,” one of his colleague said playfully.

 

Maria’s role in the 1993 Mumbai blasts in which 257 people were killed and over 700 injured was never questioned by anybody. An adroit investigator, he was also in charge of the investigations into the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.