Close on the heels of former IAS officer Arun Bhatia writing to Election Commission seeking immediate transfer of Pune Divisional Commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh, Pune based Right to Information activist and whistleblower Vijay Kumbhar has filed an complaint with the election commission seeking Deshmukh’s tranfer.

Kumbhar had filed the complaint on March 4 stating : Presently Prabhakar Deshmukh (IAS) is stationed in pune division. Pune division consists of five districts and all these districts are under Deshmukhs control. Mr. Deshmukh has very strong political backing and can easily manipulate the election procedure. Hence despite several complaints, allegation and even after supreme courts severe stricture against him, he has not been been transferred out of pune division, pune city or pune district.

Since last ten years as a collector of pune (2004 to 2008), commissioner of agriculture (2008 – 2012, head office in Pune ) then as a divisional commissioner of pune ( December 2012 onwards) he is setteled in pune city only. This is against your circular No. 437/6/1/2014- CC&BE dated 9/1/2014. This circular says, no officer connected with elections, directly or indirectly, should be allowed to continue in the present district of posting:- (a) If she/he is posted in her/his home district. (b) If she/he has completed three years in that district during last four years or would be completing 3 years on or before 31.05.2014. For transparent election process Prabhakar Deshmukh must be transferred with immediate effect. Please do the needful, the complaint stated.

Kumbhar said that he was disappointed at the manner in which the election commission was dealing with his complaint. “I have filed the complaint in the national interest and no action whatsoever has been taken against Deshmukh. I would have had some hope had the commission stated my complaint to be rejected. I urge the EC to immediately transfer the controversial bureacrat out of Pune.” he added.