Didi Makes Peeyush Pandey Acting DGP Of Bengal
Mr Pandey, who is expected to take charge from Mr Kumar on Saturday, was posted as the Director (Security), in rank of DG, covering VVIP protection including the CM before his elevation.
Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday appointed senior IPS officer of the 1993-batch, Peeyush Pandey, as the acting director general of police (DGP) of the state, ending speculations about the successor of present DGP Rajeev Kumar, retiring on Saturday, ahead of the Assembly Election.
Mr Pandey, who is expected to take charge from Mr Kumar on Saturday, was posted as the Director (Security), in rank of DG, covering VVIP protection including the CM before his elevation. He earlier served in the elite Special Protection Group, entrusted for the Prime Minister's security.
Mr Pandey was the IG (SPG) when Narendra Modi became the PM in 2014 and later got an extension over two years. He later served as ADG in various wings of the state police after finishing his central deputation. Ms Banerjee also undertook a huge reshuffle of the IPS cadre in the poll-bound state.
She made Supratim Sarkar, who was ADG (South Bengal), the Kolkata Police Commissioner replacing Manoj Kumar Verma who has been assigned as Director (Security), a post held by Mr Pandey. Mr Sarkar, a known author, earlier served in various capacities in the city police.
With his promotion, Kolkata got a Bengali face as the top cop after four years following the stint of Somen Mitra. The rejig includes a swap of posts between ADG (STF) Vineet Goyal and ADG (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim. Among others, SN Gupta has become DG(Prison) while Anuj Sharma has been appointed as DG(Fire).