The state home department has given Commissioner of Police Sanjay Barve a three-month extension in service with the Centre's approval. The nod came on Friday evening, the penultimate day of Barve's retirement, which is on August 31 (today). The decision put to rest speculations that Barve would not continue in view of the Election Commission of India's (ECI) guidelines that superannuated officers should not be given important responsibilities during the polls.

The home department headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made its reasons amply clear for continuing with the officer. The Cabinet committee of appointments of the Union government's Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) approved the proposal a day ahead of Barve's retirement. The approval letter was sent Friday to the Maharashtra government.