Just in: Former Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria denies claims that he is 'close' to Peter and Indrani Mukerjea. Maria, who was promoted to Director General Home Guards, Maharashtra, says he met the former Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea for the first time recently. Mukerjea is being questioned in the murder of his wife Indrani's daugher, Sheena Bora.


Former Mumbai police chief and BJP MP Satyapal Singh hinted at 'friendly relations' between Rakesh Maria and Peter Mukerjea as a possible cause for being shunted upstairs. Satyapal Singh made this claim to CNN-IBN.


Maria, however told India Today TV that Indrani spoke only English, which the local police probing the case, did not understand.


Eyebrows have been raised at Maria's decision to head the Sheena Bora murder probe. A few days ago, Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis rapped the Mumbai Police over the attention devoted to the Sheena Bora murder case. "Police have shown a lot of involvement and attention in a case which is in the media spotlight. It should pay similar attention to other cases which do not get media focus," said Fadnavis, who controls the home portfolio.


The new Mumbai police commissioner Ahmed Javed, denied reports that Maria's entire team probing the Bora murder including police inspector Dinesh Kadam, were shunted out. Speaking about the Sheena murder investigation Ahmed said today, "Investigation is a team work. The accused are already in judicial custody. As far as interrogation goes, it is over at this time. The investigation will be monitored in the right, professional way. The case should be handled properly and evidence collected in such a way that it becomes a complete case when it is put up for trial," he added.


Maria's transfer comes as a shock to many in the state administration as the Mumbai Police are about to file a chargesheet in the case in the next few weeks. State home secretary KP Bakshi, however, said the senior IPS officer was due for promotion as the DGP and the government wanted the new commissioner to have time to settle in to handle the festival season that begins with Ganpati and goes on till Diwali.