Yet again, Uttar Pradesh has appointed an acting Director General of Police (DGP). Rajiv Krishna (IPS:1991:UP) has officially taken over as the state’s police chief on an additional charge basis, becoming the fifth consecutive officer to hold the post in an acting capacity.
As first reported by www.legendofficers.com on May 25, UP was set to get its fifth consecutive acting DGP. That prediction materialized late evening on May 31, when Krishna’s appointment was confirmed, bringing an end to days of speculation and behind-the-scenes chatter in state administrative circles.
Extension or New Appointment?
The uncertainty began building well before May 31. With incumbent DGP Prashant Kumar (IPS:1990:UP) set to retire, the state government faced two options—seek an extension for him or name another officer in an interim role. However, the state neither forwarded a panel of eligible officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) nor constituted a selection committee, as required for a regular appointment. This procedural lapse narrowed the choices, making an acting appointment the likely outcome.
By mid-May, murmurs grew louder that Kumar could get a six-month extension, thanks to his track record and the confidence he enjoyed from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. These murmurs gained strength when an official farewell circular issued by the DGP office on May 28 listed five retiring IPS officers—but omitted Kumar’s name, despite his scheduled retirement on May 31.
Clarity Eludes Till the Last Minute
The omission raised eyebrows, intensifying talk that Kumar’s tenure was quietly being extended. Adding fuel to the fire, on May 30, BSF DG Daljit Singh Chaudhary (IPS:1990:UP) met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Though described as a routine courtesy call, the meeting fed further speculation about a last-minute shift in the UP DGP succession plan.
Even on May 31, the suspense persisted. While attending the farewell ceremony for retiring IPS officers, Kumar addressed the controversy, stating that as the police chief who organized the event, he found it inappropriate to include his own name in the farewell list. But the clarification failed to end the speculation.
That evening, while speculation over Prashant Kumar’s possible extension peaked, another twist briefly captured attention. Reports began circulating that only two of the three 1992-batch IPS officers—Ashutosh Pandey, Neera Rawat, and Anand Swaroop—had been promoted to the DG rank due to only two vacancies, with Swaroop’s promotion put on hold, allegedly because Prashant Kumar still held one DG-level post as DG, Economic Offences Wing (EOW). However, this development was never officially confirmed and appeared to be part of the broader uncertainty surrounding the DGP succession.
The Verdict: Krishna Takes Charge
Finally, around 8 PM on May 31, the suspense ended with the appointment of Rajiv Krishna as acting DGP. This signaled that Prashant Kumar’s tenure had officially concluded, and any plans for his extension were off the table.
Rajiv Krishna currently holds dual roles as Chairman of the UP Police Recruitment and Promotion Board and Director of Vigilance. Known for his clean record and administrative efficiency, he is also seen as a trusted officer of the Chief Minister. His deft handling of the recent police recruitment process, marred earlier by a paper leak controversy, is believed to have played a significant role in his elevation. Notably, he has superseded 11 senior officers to secure the top post.
(By-Rajeev Singh)
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