Rapid Changes in Bengal's Police Leadership Raise Eyebrows

24 hours, three DGPs, and one state.

Bengal's DGP up until Monday afternoon was Rajeev Kumar, an IPS officer from the 1989 batch. On Monday night, Vivek Sahay, an officer from the 1988 batch, was appointed DGP after Kumar was removed by the Election Commission of India. Sahay was replaced as DGP on Tuesday afternoon by Sanjoy Mukherjee, an officer from the 1989 batch, who was selected by the EC.

On Tuesday night, Mukherjee, the director-general of fire and emergency services, assumed leadership as the DGP.

This musical chairs exercise surprised many in the bureaucracy.

Senior state home department officials claimed that the state administration was merely carrying out the directives given by the highest poll panel.

A top official in the state administration stated that the electoral commission had requested that the state government remove Kumar from his position as DGP and assign him to a "non-election" role, in accordance with the EC's decision from Monday.

According to a senior IAS officer, "the order also mentioned that Kumar's charge be given to the next senior officer at the police headquarters till the posting of a new DGP."

On Monday, the state government's name of three IPS officials was requested by the EC to be considered for the position of DGP.

On Monday, the EC received the names of Vivek Sahay, Sanjoy Mukherjee, and Rajesh Kumar. In response to the EC order, the state administration designated Sahay, the most senior IPS officer in the state, DGP.

On Tuesday, however, the EC chose Mukherjee to be the new DGP out of the three candidates and notified the Bengal government, requesting that they comply with the ruling by Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Sahay's planned retirement in May 2024, according to state home department sources, might play a role in choosing the next DGP. Although Sahay plans to retire in May 2024, the last round of voting is set for June 1 and the count is set for June 4. The DGP's retirement in the midst of the election process can create further challenges. This might have had a role in Mukherjee's selection, the official stated.

In addition to holding the positions of special inspector-general of police in the CID, inspector-general of police (south Bengal), commissioner of police in Barrackpore, principal secretary in the state correctional services, and additional director-general of police (CID), Mukherjee has held positions as deputy commissioner (headquarters) and deputy commissioner of the detective department (special) in the Calcutta police.

Mukherjee, a Presidency College economics graduate, completed his MBA at IIM Calcutta.

Mukherjee, who has been awarded multiple esteemed police medals, is a passionate trivia enthusiast.

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