S.S. Virk to be new Maharashtra top cop

Mumbai, March 13 (IANS) Ending six months of suspense, the Maharashtra government Friday evening appointed senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer S.S. Virk as next director general of police.

Home Minister Jayant Patil said a high-level committee was appointed for selecting the new DGP from among the eligible officers and Virk was finally selected.

Virk, an officer of the 1970 batch, will replace A.N. Roy whose appointment was challenged before various legal authorities.

'Virk's name had been sent to the state chief electoral officer for clearance after which the decision was taken,' Minister of State for Home Naseem Khan told IANS shortly after the announcement was made.

Referring to certain allegations of corruption made by the Punjab government against Virk, Patil asserted that all the charges have been disproved.

Patil said the Punjab government was unnecessarily pursuing matters against Virk, but his record has come out clean, paving the way for his appointment.