Former Odisha Police DG Sanjeev Marik appointed CMD of OSRTC

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Nov 27: 

History today repeated itself for Odisha Police. Quite like its former chief Prakash Mishra, its recent chief Sanjeev Marik has also been made the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC).

Political analysts consider CMD of OSRTC to be a punishment posting for someone who had been the Director General of the state police.

Even though Marik is supposed to retire on December 31, he was unceremoniously removed from DG post on November 7 and was asked to go on leave. The incident came after the DG and CMO (Chief Minister’s office) confronted over the transfer of about 47 DSPs and three ASPs on October 17. Even the Chief Minister had to intervene to sort the issue out.

Almost 20 days after the incident, a notification was issued today about his new appointment, which many consider outright humiliating. The phenomenon, however, is nothing new for Naveen Patnaik led BJD Government.

Marik’s predecessor Prakash Mishra was also shifted from DG position and was made the CMD of OSRTC on July 5, 2014 following a fallout with the State Government for seizing money laden vehicles of BJD leaders during 2014 assembly polls.

Unlike Marik, Prakash Mishra, however, was lucky to survive the blow and moved back to centre and now serves as the DG of CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) after serving a term as Central Government’s Special Secretary on Internal Security.

Interestingly, Mishra’s predecessor Manmohan Praharaj was also denied to complete his term as DG of Odisha Police. Suspected to be a Pyari Mohapatra loyalist, Praharaj was shunted out following the mid-night coup attempt by Pyari in 2012.

New police DG Kunwar Brajesh Singh (KB Singh), whom Odisha High Court once called “More loyal than the king” for his proven loyalty to the Naveen Government, must have been taking notice and praying for relief going by the past record of the government.