Creamy Postings Over Promotions!

• 75 Senior PIs Snub ACP Rank

• Politics Rules Mumbai Police Transfers

Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098

In a startling revelation, 75 Senior PIs in Mumbai have refused promotions to ACP roles, choosing instead to retain control over lucrative police stations. Despite Home Department warnings, transfer orders were ignored, exposing deep-rooted political interference. Sprouts News SIT uncovers how favoritism and influence continue to undermine Maharashtra’s police system.

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Creamy Postings Over Promotions!

ACP Promotions Rejected for the Sake of Lucrative Postings

A shocking trend has surfaced in the Mumbai Police department: 75 Senior Police Inspectors (Senior PIs) listed for promotion between 2022 and 2024 have deliberately refused elevation to the post of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP). The reason? A strong preference to retain their hold on highly lucrative and influential police stations, commonly referred to as “malai daar thane” (creamy postings).

An in-depth probe by the Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) reveals a widespread pattern where promotions are seen as a burden, not a reward. Officers are actively avoiding ACP ranks that carry higher administrative responsibility but lesser “unofficial perks” compared to station-level positions.

75 Senior Mumbai Police Refuse ACP Roles.

Transfer Orders Ignored, Senior PIs Return to Old Posts

Despite clear directives from the Home Department stating that those refusing promotions would be reassigned to non-executive or side branches, many officers have manipulated the system to return to their original postings.

Recent cases uncovered by Sprouts SIT:

•Rajiv Chavan, transferred out of Mumbai in November 2024, returned to MIDC Police Station by May 2025.

•Balwant Deshmukh, removed from Ghatkopar Police Station, also found his way back.

•Rajesh Kewale, ordered to leave Pant Nagar Police Station, continues to occupy the same chair.

These actions not only flout transfer policies but raise serious concerns about political shielding and internal lobbying.

A Blow to Meritocracy and Institutional Discipline

The refusal of promotions by entrenched Senior PIs is more than just a policy lapse—it is an institutional betrayal of the merit-based system.

Numerous deserving Inspectors, who had been waiting to move up as Senior PIs, have been denied fair opportunity due to the stagnancy caused by politically backed officers clinging to their posts. This practice demoralizes honest officers, erodes the operational efficiency of the force, and undermines public faith in police impartiality.

Rules Only on Paper? Policy vs. Power Struggle

Internal discussions within the department reveal a growing frustration:

•“If promotions can be bypassed and rules manipulated through political influence, what value does the system hold anymore?” questioned a senior officer anonymously.

•The Home Department’s earlier warning—that promotion refusals would be penalized—has largely remained unimplemented, exposing the lack of enforcement willpower.

Sprouts News SIT has learned that unit heads have not been held accountable, despite specific orders to do so. Sources suggest political intervention is a major reason behind this selective inaction.

75 Senior PIs in Mumbai have refused promotions to ACP roles

The Core Issue: Loyalty to Law or Loyalty to Lobby?

What was designed as a system to reward merit and build future leadership has become a network of comfort zones for those who master the art of staying in “soft” or “income-rich” postings.

Promotion has been turned into a penalty, and ‘managing’ the system has become a career skill. This not only violates the principles of fairness and rotation but also creates a deep sense of inequality among the lower ranks of the force.

Also Read: Bombay High Court Acquits Maruti Borhade in ₹500 Bribery Case After 25 Years.

Can the Home Department Rein in This Culture?

The Mumbai Police’s internal structure now faces a serious credibility crisis. The dominance of political clout, personal networking, and unofficial ‘arrangements’ over established procedures has hollowed out the very foundation of an accountable police force.

Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) asks:

•Will the Home Department finally take bold action against these violations?

•Or will the rule of law continue to bend before the will of the powerful?

Until decisive action is taken, “rules will remain only on paper”, and “creamy chairs” will be reserved for those who know how to play the system, not serve the people.