Patnaik, a 1979 batch officer of the Indian Police Service, has been replaced by Additional Director General (Law and Order) Satyapal Singh of 1980 batch.
Patnaik has been promoted to the rank of Director General of Police and posted as Managing Director of Maharashtra State Security Corporation, state's Home Minister R R Patil told PTI, describing the transfer as a "routine administrative process".
Seeking to downplay his shifting from the high-profile post, barely two days after a massive show of strength by Raj Thackeray's MNS at a rally here to demand Patnaik's ouster, Patil said the file for his transfer was first moved by the DGP's office on July 6.
A revised file was set in motion on August 8 and state's Chief Secretary had chaired a meeting in this regard on August 16, five days after the Azad Maidan incident where a protest called by Muslim organisations against alleged persecution of members of the community in Assam and Myanmar turned violent.
Two protesters were killed in firing and over 50 injured including more than 40 police personnel. Several police and media vehicles were vandalised and set ablaze, some women constables allegedly molested and three police weapons and ammunition snatched by the mob.
While Patnaik had come in for fulsome praise from Muslim leaders for exercising restraint in the face of grave provocation, the Opposition, particularly Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray's MNS, went for his jugular. More