Who will be the next Odisha Police DG?

Bhubaneswar: Question over who will be the next Director General of Police in Odisha is now doing rounds in the power corridors of the State soon after Governor Ganeshi Lal on Tuesday approved the Lokayukta selection panel’s recommendation to appoint current DGP RP Sharma as the member of the anti-corruption ombudsman organization.

In his reaction, Sharma today hinted that he will opt for Voluntary Retirement from Service to assume charge as Lokayukta member.

“The process is underway. It is a new and important responsibility and will use all my experience in the new role,” said Sharma.

Odisha Minister of State (Home), Dibya Shankar Mishra said “The Centre will take a decision on it.”

With Sharma’s elevation to the constitutional post, it has now become crystal clear that soon Odisha will get a DGP.  Though names of several senior IPS are doing rounds for the top cop post, the State government has recommended the names of eight IPS officers of 1986, 1987 and 1988 batches to the UPSC in accordance with the new Supreme Court guidelines on DGP appointment.

The list includes 1985-batch IPS officer Abhay, who is on central deputation (National Police Academy);  Pradip Kapur , director of National Technical Research Organisation Centre and DG Fire Services and Civil Defence, M Nageswar Rao. Similarly, Odisha Fire Services DG, Bijay Kumar Sharma also stands a good chance owing to his track record. IPS officers of 1987 batch, Sunil Kumar Bansal and Surendra Panwar, who are presently on central deputation, and Odisha Intelligence Director, Sunil Roy and the current Twin City Police Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty are also on the list.