Former Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau chief R H Mendonca has accused Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal of interfering in police postings.

Reacting to Bhujbal's interview to a leading newspaper that he (Bhujbal) had been forced to carry out a spate of transfers to "break the nexus between the Shiv Sena shakha pramukhs and the local police", Mendonca said, "You have once again dragged my name to settle your personal score… I think it is time to put the record straight."

In an open letter to Bhujbal, Mendonca, also former Mumbai police commissioner, said: "The officers you allude to were posted by me strictly according to the norms laid down for postings and transfers. The problem arose when you desired postings of officers of your choice to particular positions in violation of the existing norms.

"When you found that I was not willing to comply with your wishes, you resorted to posting officers directly.

"As it became difficult to maintain the proper chain of command because of your interference in postings and transfers, I was left with no choice but voluntarily to seek a shift from the post of commissioner of police.

"All this is a matter of record which is available in the office of the commissioner of police and the home department."

He said though he had retired, "I still value my commitment to a public servant's code of conduct and therefore will refrain from quoting that correspondence".

"But if you believe in a sense of fair play, then you must let the truth be known to the citizens of our city who have the right to know it."

Former Mumbai police commissioner J F Ribeiro had also criticised Bhujbal on the same issue.