27 June,2026 01:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. File Photo
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday criticised senior IPS officer Vishwas Nangare Patil over his participation in a Hindu Sammelan organised by the Sakal Hindu Samaj, saying that if the officer wished to publicly express support for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), he should resign from service and join the organisation or the BJP.
The remarks come after an undated video of Nangare Patil's speech at the event went viral earlier this week, triggering a political controversy. The Maharashtra Congress has already sought an inquiry into the officer's participation, alleging that it raises questions about political neutrality and compliance with the All India Services (Conduct) Rules.
Nangare Patil was appointed Nagpur Police Commissioner earlier this week.
In a post on X, Raj Thackeray said a serving police officer must remain impartial and should not publicly associate with any political or ideological organisation.
He alleged that although the Hindu conferences are presented as non-political events, they are political in nature.
"It seems that IPS officer Mr. Vishwas Nangre Patil has suddenly developed a desire to show dual loyalty. He is a police officer, so his loyalty should be solely and exclusively to the duties of the police force. But here, Nangre Patil appears to want to demonstrate his loyalty to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Currently, Hindu conferences are being held across the state, and at one such conference, Vishwas Nangre Patil went and showered praises on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its founder. Fundamentally, even though these conferences are portrayed as apolitical, they are inherently political."
He further said that anyone examining the organisers and objectives of such programmes would understand their political background.
Raj Thackeray said government officers, particularly police officials, are expected to remain politically neutral while discharging their duties.
"At such an event, Nangre Patil is going and openly singing the praises of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Have you forgotten that you are a police officer, and impartiality is expected from officers? If you feel affection for the Sangh, keep it in your heart, or if you want to speak about it publicly, then resign from service and join the Sangh or the BJP. After all, a rehabilitation guarantee scheme for disgruntled officers has been running for many years now. Yours will happen too."
He also questioned whether the Chief Minister and the Home Minister considered such conduct appropriate for a serving IPS officer.
Referring to an incident during an MNS protest in 2012, Raj Thackeray claimed that a police constable had faced disciplinary action after publicly expressing support for him.
"In 2012, during the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's protest march against the Raza Academy, a constable had come and stood by the police, for which he congratulated me. But the then-government sent him on compulsory leave for abandoning impartiality. So, will this government take the same stance in Nangre Patil's case? Or does this dual loyalty work for the government, or does it feel like it must be shown?"
He questioned whether the present government would apply the same standards in the case of Nangare Patil.
Raj Thackeray also expressed concern over the functioning of democratic institutions, saying public confidence could be affected if government officials were perceived to be politically aligned.
"Legislators and MPs have been put in a situation where if someone says 'come to us,' they have to rush over. When there's already doubt about whether any opposition MLAs or MPs are left, if government officers too fail to remain impartial, then who should the people look to?"
Concluding his remarks, he appealed directly to the IPS officer.
"Whether it's Nangre Patil or someone else, my request to them is: if you're running after the government or the organizations behind it, that's exactly what they want. But Nangre Patil, you are a good, efficient officer - don't you at least pawn your sense of propriety before political parties and organizations!"
The controversy began after a video of Nangare Patil's speech at the Hindu Sammelan surfaced on social media earlier this week. The senior IPS officer has not publicly responded to Raj Thackeray's remarks.
