In the ongoing Maharashtra versus Centre tussle, the appointment of IPS officer Sanjay Pande as the Mumbai police commissioner appears to be a move by the MVA government to counter the perceived targeting of its leaders through central agencies. Ever since Pandey took charge, the Mumbai police and its Economic Offences Wing have been kept on their toes to go after the “enemies” of MVA, said sources.

Four days after Pandey became Mumbai police chief, an FIR was registered against IPS officer Rashmi Shukla at Colaba police station. Sources said additional commissioner of special branch Rajiv Jain is the complainant in the case.