New Delhi: Delhi police commissioner BS Bassi retired from service on Monday, clearing the way for Alok Verma who succeeded him as the next police chief.
Emphasising that men in uniform never work under 'political pressure', the top cop said that Delhi Police has become synonymous with 'smart policing'.
Bassi also expressed confidence that his successor Alok Verma would take 'technology' in the Delhi Police to greater heights.
Thanking his entire team of Delhi Police for being a firm support and wished them success in their future endeavors, he said "The Delhi Police is a great force, the support of my 80,000 plus strong personnel has been my biggest strength. They never allowed work pressure to take a toll on me.”
Bassi further said that the people from different parts of India live in Delhi, adding the police is committed to serve them all with the same sense of duty.
"Be it a department or an individual-all have negatives and positives. It's our duty to encourage positives and work towards reducing negatives," he said.
The new commissioner will have around 17 months in hand as he is to retire in August, 2017. Verma has his task cut out with the circumstances prevailing in Delhi at the moment. He will have to prove better than Bassi who has come under heavy criticism for his unguarded comments, and handling the JNU row.
He will also need to have a fresh look at the investigations in high profile cases like Sunanda Pushkar, molestation case against TERI's RK Pachauri and many others. Considered an upright officer, Verma has handled crucial assignments in Delhi Police and has been on deputations in intelligence bureau and the Centre as well. He headed south and northeast districts as DCP before going to foreign regional registration office (FRRO).
Later, he was posted with a ministry and then sent to Puducherry. Upon his return, Verma was made joint commissioner of New Delhi Range. He headed the crime branch as joint CP as well as special commissioner.
He was again transferred to Puducherry before being posted as special commissioner (vigilance) and intelligence in Delhi Police.
He was posted as DG Mizoram before taking up the number 2 position in Delhi Police as special commissioner (admin). He was posted as director general of Tihar after Vimla Mehra was shifted out abruptly.
