Mumbai, May 23 (IANS): In the continuing fallout of the April 16 lynching incident in which two Sadhus were killed by a mob, the state government on Saturday shunted out Palghar Superintendent Police Guarav Singh and replaced him with senior IPS officer, D.T. Shinde.

Singh has been on compulsory leave since May 7 -- pending an enquiry by the Crime Investigation Department into the sensational case which triggered a national political row last month.

Shinde is currently the Managing Director of MahaVitaran and has now been entrusted with the sensitive assignment, according to an official.

As part of the shakeup in the Palghar Police, besides Singh, five police officers were suspended last month, while 35 constables were slapped with transfer orders around the district following the lynchings.

Singha's orders for ‘compulsory leave' came shortly after Home Minister Anil Deshmukh visited the Kasa Police Station under the jurisdiction of which the mob-lynching took place.

So far, the police have arrested at least 135 persons, including 9 minors, in connection with the incident, which included several local politicians.

On the night of April 16, Kalpavrukshagiri Maharaj, 70, his assistant Sushilgiri Maharaj, 35, and their driver Nilesh Telgade, 30, were pounced upon and killed by an angry mob of around 350 which mistook them for kidnappers near Gadchinchale village.