New Delhi: Have you read Sherlock Holmes?" asks ACP Sanjay Kadam of the Anti Terrorism Squad, an old associate of Mumbai's outgoing Commissioner of Police (CP) Rakesh Maria. "That is him."
Maria is again in limelight for his investigations into sensational Sheena Bora murder case.
Maria was due to be promoted on September 30 but the process was advanced to enable the police officers to settle down before the festive season.
Maria belongs to the 1981 batch of the Indian Police Service (IPS). His first posting was as assistant superintendent of police in Akola, and then Buldhana in Maharashtra. He came to Mumbai in 1986. He was the Deputy Commissioner Police (Traffic) in 1993.
He was appointed the Commissioner of Mumbai Police on 15 February 2014.
India TV brings to you top 5 cases cracked by Maria:
1. 1993 serial blasts
Everything about the blasts -- from the intensity to the material used -- Research and Development Explosive (RDX) left the police grappling for answers. A 150+ team of the Mumbai police force was set up under the command of Rakesh Maria.
As the Deputy Commissioner Police (Traffic) in 1993, Maria cracked the Bombay serial blasts case, and later moved to DCP (Crime) and then Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), of the Mumbai Police.
2. Twin Gateway blasts in 2003
Blasts at Zaveri Bazaar and Gateway of India on August 25, 2003, saw 52 people killed and more than 100 injured.
Maria was credited with cracking the 2003 Mumbai blasts case. Six accused, including main conspirators Ashrat Ansari, Hanif Sayed, his wife Fahmida Sayed were convicted.
He was later made a part of an informal Anti-Terrorist Squad that was to look into the blasts.
3. Neeraj Grover murder case
The 2008 sensational Neeraj Grover murder case was cracked with one cryptic.
The Neeraj Grover case involved struggling Kannada actress, Maria Susairaj, and her boyfriend.
Maria's one statement to Susairaj that - "You Madam (Susairaj), are my suspect number 1" invited flak for him.
Maria faced criticism the way he cracked the case but his colleagues argue that the top cop's integrity is unquestionable.
Susiraj and her boyfriend Jerome Mathew were later convicted in the case.
4. 26/11 terror attack
Maria was given the responsibility of investigating the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. He interrogated Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist captured alive, and successfully investigated the case. Kasab was hanged in 2012.
Investigations into the entire case along with foreign agencies were conducted by the Mumbai crime branch under Rakesh Maria.
5. Sheena Bora murder case
After the case was opened in August, Maria said that he will not let the case to turn into an Arushi case.
Maria has also promised to file the charge-sheet in the case before the end of his tenure as Mumbai Police Commissioner i.e. on September 30.
Maria personally interrogated accused Indrani Mukerjea, her husband Peter Mukerjea and others in the case.
He also explained that he needed to go to the police station as the accused, especially Indrani Mukerjea, were high profile, not cooperating and speaking in hi-fi English.
