Controversial police officer Rajendra Kane was promoted to the position of additional superintendent, CID, just three days before his retirement. Activist Aftab Siddique raised concerns about this promotion in a letter addressed to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds charge of the home ministry, as well as to Rashmi Shukla, director general of police. She questioned the legitimacy of his promotion.
Kane was the senior inspector of Santa Cruz police station.
An inspector of the same police station, Sharad Landge, had lodged a complaint against Kane in April 2024 with the then deputy commissioner , Zone 9, Raj Tilak Roushan, accusing Kane of preventing the filing of an FIR in an extortion case. The FPJ had reported on the case, detailing the allegations made by both the activist and the junior officer.
In March 2024, Mahesh Gami, a textile merchant from Gujarat, who had been living in Santa Cruz for the past two years, filed an extortion complaint against four individuals. Two of them were alleged involved with the sand mafia and were politically well connected. had connections to a political party.
When Gami complained, police officer Landge led the investigation and issued notices to the accused. However, after this, Landge reportedly received calls from political figures and senior police officers. He completed the probe and sought Kane’s approval for filing FIR, but the permission was refused. Gami then approached t DCP Raj Tilak Roushan, who ordered that the FIR be filed. Roushan also ordered a departmental inquiry against Kane for not permitting the filing of FIR. Even as the inquiry was pending, Kane was promoted. On April 17, after Gami met the DCP again, Kane eventually filed the FIR on April 18, and a departmental inquiry was initiated. The recommendation for President's medal for Kane was also cancelled. Siddique asked why such a controversial was promoted despite several adverse factors.
Activists questioned why there was such exceptional interest in Kane’s promotion despite an ongoing internal inquiry. Siddique also asked why a special order was issued for him and claimed that the extortion charges are still pending.
Siddique’s letter stated: “A three-day promotion that results in a higher salary and pension for an officer involved in extortion charges sets a wrong precedent. I request a suo motu inquiry into this promotion.” She demanded an immediate inquiry into the promotion and those responsible for it, to determine who initiated it, how it happened, and why an officer facing corruption and extortion charges was promoted. Kane was unavailable for comment. A farewell party was held for him on Tuesday night at Hotel Orchid near terminal 1 of the airport.
