'Moral cop' Vasant Dhoble shifted to Mumbai crime branch

"Dhoble, who was with the control room of late, has been brought to the crime branch," a senior police official said.

The ACP, who, armed with his trademark hockey stick, raided bars and restaurants which stayed open beyond the permissible time, had invited mixed reactions. The media berated Dhoble for his "high-handed" style and for curtailing the city's night life but residents in the vicinity of bars and pubs welcomed his tough stand.

ACP Vasant Dhoble

Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh, soon after taking over, had ordered Dhoble to report to the crime branch instead of the Commissioner directly.

Two women, detained by a police team led by Dhoble during a raid on restaurant for alleged human trafficking racket, had also dragged him to court, seeking compensation for alleged defamation.

But the Bombay High Court refused to pass any directions against the police.

Recently the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Maharashtra police gave him a clean-chit in a case related to hawker's death during eviction drive of police in Vakola area, which fell under his jurisdiction as ACP. The hawker died of heart attack.u00a0