Maharashtra Home Dept moots Patnaik's transfer

"The Home Department has submitted a proposal to transfer Patnaik," a senior official told PTI.

The proposal, which was submitted three days ago, is awaiting Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan's consent, the official said.

Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have demanded Patnaik's resignation over the way he handled the situation during the August 11 violence.

Defying the Mumbai Police, which refused him permission for a rally from Girgaum Chowpatty to Azad Maidan, MNS chief Raj Thackeray today led his supporters' march against the August 11 violence during a demonstration against alleged atrocities on Muslims in Assam and Myanmar.

"I am standing here to express solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the police force and the media and to demand immediate resignation of Home Minister R R Patil and police commissioner Arup Patnaik," he said.