IPS Officer Rashmi Shukla Refutes Allegations, Statement Recorded In Hyderabad

Rashmi Shukla Refutes Allegations: The Mumbai cyber police have recorded the statement of IPS officer Rashmi Shukla in connection with an alleged illegal tapping of a phone and confidential report leak. Reportedly, Shukla has refuted the allegations.

Rashmi Shukla was summoned twice for questioning but she refused to have her statement recorded. She cited the pandemic and her responsibilities in CRPF as the reasons of her inability to have her statement recorded. Shukla later moved the Bombay High Court against the summons. The court, however, granted permission to the Mumbai Police to record her statement in Hyderabad.

On March 26, the cyber police filed a case on an SID (State Intelligence Department) complaint against people who allegedly leaked the report Shukla submitted over the purported payments for transfer within the police department. At that time, she was the commissioner of intelligence. The report named senior politicians, middlemen, and police officers, all of whom allegedly sought transfers and postings of their liking. The report referred to "monetary exchange" between middlemen and politicians acting in close connection with politicians.

The Home Department officials revealed that the leaked copy was the SID's office copy and did not contain the signature of Rashmi Shukla. The chief secretary of Maharashtra, Sitara Kunte submitted a report to chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. It contained the details of the circumstances in which Shukla created the report. Kunte's report added that Shukla intercepted calls of six persons because of "public safety". Therefore, it "misguided the authorities". It said that no transfers of police officers took place in the period when the calls were intercepted, that is, June 27 and September 1, 2020.

Kunte's report questioned as to whether or not Shukla had leaked the report. If such was the case, she would be liable for "strict action". The report said, "The report leak had led to breach of privacy and defamation of the officers whose names have been mentioned in it. the deals for the transfers mentioned in it and actual transfers done by the government differ. This proves that there was no question of any scam in the transfers".

Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis has claimed that Shukla sought permission from the then additional chief secretary (home) and intercepted the calls.

Shukla is presently on central deputation. he is posted as additional director general of the Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF) in Hyderabad. In 2004, she received DGP's Insignia for her outstanding performance. In 2005, she received President Police Medal for Meritorious Service and in 2013, she received President Police Medal for Distinguished Service.