The timing of Mangaluru Police Commissioner S Murugan’s transfer has raised speculation on whether it had anything to do with the Zakir Naik controversy.

The official order transferring Murugan, who took over as the police commissioner just about a year ago on January 1, 2015, is yet to be issued. Benglauru JCP (Crime) M Chandra Sekar islikely to replace Murugan. There is no information on where he would be posted next.

Murugan’s transfer was announced late on Wednesday night, a day after the police booked a case against a Muslim youth for posting derogatory comments against Murugan and his wife.

A youth named Akbar Kudroli on Tuesday made derogatory remarks against the commissioner a day after the police issued orders prohibiting the entry of Zakir Naik into Mangaluru to address a conference organized by the South Karnataka Salafi Movement.

The News Minute’s calls to S. Murugan and Chandra Sekar remained unanswered at the time of writing.