Fadnavis wants police commissioner as Saudi envoy

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is pushing the name of new Mumbai police commissioner, Ahmed Javed, for the post of India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The post has been vacant for a long time and a new ambassador was supposed to be in place by the end of July. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants someone suitable in place ahead of his likely visit to Saudi Arabia in the near future. A Muslim diplomat serving in Chicago as chargé d’affaires is said to be reluctant to take up the job.  Ahmed Javed, a 1980 cadre IPS officer who will retire soon, has known Fadnavis since the latter’s Nagpur days. Many in the Ministry of External Affairs are wondering what Javed may have done for the CM that his name is being pushed for the prestigious post. Fadnavis has already installed Javed in place of Rakesh Maria as Mumbai police commissioner when the Sheena Bora murder controversy was at its peak. Javed courted controversy by admitting that Peter and Indrani Mukerjea had attended his Eid party and that he had met them a couple of times. However, Fadnavis’ efforts may be in vain as sources in the Prime Minister’s Office say that the Saudi post may go to career diplomat Javed Usman, who has been working closely with PM Modi on his speeches. The other person in the race is said to be Union minister Najma Heptullah, who has turned 75 and may have to leave the Cabinet.