Mumbai, Nov 13: Beleagured city Police Commissioner Ranjit Singh Sharma called on Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde at Mantralaya this morning, sources said here. The close-door meeting between Shinde and Sharma, which sources said lasted for about half an hour, was attended by Chief Secretary Ajit Nimbalkar and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) U K Mukhopadhyay.

The Mumbai CP's meeting with the Chief Minister holds significance in the backdrop of the report submitted by SIT chief S S Puri, to the CM yesterday on the alleged role of senior police officials, including Sharma, in shielding the prime accused of fake stamps and stamp paper scam, Abdul Karim Telgi. Sources further said immediately after his meeting with Shinde, Sharma rushed to Ramtek, the official residence of Deputy Chief Minister, Chagan Bhujbal, who also holds the home portfolio.

Meanwhile, after Sharma's meeting with the CM, a delegation of former IPS officers and bureaucrats met Shinde.

Prominent among those present in the delegation included former Mumbai Police commissioners Rony Mendonca, Julius Reibero, B S Soman, and former bureaucrat B G Deshmukh, sources said.

The former IPS officials and bureaucrats reportedly insisted on taking firm steps to stem the rot and improve the plummeting image of Mumbai Police. Eleven police officials including IPS officer Sridhar Vagal have been arrested by the sit so far, while it has questioned Sharma for several hours recently.

Bureau Report