The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has denied relief to Bihar cadre IPS officer Aditya Kumar (IPS:2011:BH) by refusing to quash disciplinary proceedings against him. Kumar is accused of being involved in a conspiracy to impersonate a former Chief Justice of the Patna High Court to influence senior police officials.
A bench of Judicial Member Justice Narendra Kumar Johari and Administrative Member Kumar Rajesh Chandra rejected Kumar’s pleas for quashing disciplinary proceedings against him, saying the pendency of criminal proceedings in the matter did not prevent the government from independently examining allegations of misconduct in disciplinary proceedings.
Kumar allegation that disciplinary proceedings were malicious since they were initiated shortly after orders extending his suspension were held void for procedural lapses was also rejected by the tribunal.
The case arose from an FIR registered by Bihar’s Economic Offences Unit in October 2022, according to which, an individual allegedly impersonated the then Chief Justice of the Patna High Court and called up the DGP and other senior officials to secure favourable administrative decisions concerning a senior officer.
Kumar was named as an accused and suspended on October 18, 2022. He surrendered before a criminal court in December 2023 and secured bail in April 2024.
The tribunal, however, voiced concern over the prolonged nature of the proceedings against Kumar and directed the state govt to try to conclude them within six months.
In a desperate move to contain the growing menace of drug trafficking in the state, the Punjab government has granted special powers to six senior IPS officers. The state govt has taken recourse to this key Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, in order to empower these officers to deal with the drug peddling cases effectively.
The IPS officers with special powers are A S Rai (IPS:1994:PB), Gautam Cheema (IPS:1995:PB), Naunihal Singh (IPS:1997:PB), Shive Verma (IPS:1998:PB), Kaustubh Sharma (IPS:2001:PB) and S Boopathi (IPS:2007:PB)).
Under the NDPS Act, these officers have special powers to detain any person for three months if found breaching the law.
New Delhi: The Delhi Government on Friday (October 23, 2026) ordered the transfer and posting of six IPS and 19 DANIPS officers with immediate effect.
The reshuffle brings changes across key police units, including the Crime Branch, Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Security, Special Cell, Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and several district police formations.
The names of the officers and their postings are as follows:
Monika Bhardwaj (IPS:2009:AGMUT), Additional CP (Crime), has been transferred and posted as Additional CP (ANTF).
Rahul Malik (IPS:2009:AGMUT) has been posted as Additional CP (Security) on arrival.
Gaurav Sharma (IPS:2009:AGMUT) has been posted as Additional CP (Security) on arrival.
Raja Banthia (IPS:2014:AGMUT), DCP (Technical & PI), will continue in the role with the additional charge of DCP (IT).
Neha Yadav (IPS:2015:AGMUT), DCP (PMMC) with additional charge of SPUWAC, has been posted as DCP (PMMC).
Praveen Kumar Tripathi (IPS:2020:AGMUT), DCP (Special Cell), has been transferred and posted to the CP’s Secretariat.
Subodh Kumar Goswami (DANIPS:2010), DCP (EOW), has been transferred and posted as Deputy Director (DPA).
Jasbir Singh (DANIPS:2011), Additional DCP-II, South East District, has been transferred and posted as Additional DCP-I, Outer District.
Saurabh Chandra (DANIPS:2011), Additional DCP-II, Dwarka District, has been transferred and posted as Additional DCP-I, West District.
Aditya Gautam (DANIPS:2013), ACP (Crime), has been transferred and posted as DCP (Crime).
Dr. Vikas Sheokand (DANIPS:2014), awaiting posting, has been posted as DCP (Special Cell) under the CDC arrangement.
A. Venkatesh (DANIPS:2014), awaiting posting, has been posted as Additional DCP-II, Shahdara District, under the CDC arrangement.
Manoj Kumar Meena (DANIPS:2014), Additional DCP-I, Outer District, has been transferred and posted as Additional DCP-II, South East District, under the CDC arrangement.
Vinay Mathur (DANIPS:2015), awaiting posting, has been posted as Additional DCP-II, Rohini District, under the CDC arrangement.
Gurswewak Singh (DANIPS:2015), awaiting posting, has been posted as Additional DCP-II, North District, under the CDC arrangement.
Ajay Kumar (DANIPS:2015), Additional DCP-II, North-West District, has been transferred and posted as DCP (Security) under the CDC arrangement.
Renu Lata (DANIPS:2017), ACP (SPUWAC), has been transferred and posted as Additional DCP (SPUWAC) under the CDC arrangement.
Vidushi Kaushik (DANIPS:2018), SDPO, Sadar Bazar, North District, has been transferred and posted as Additional DCP-II, Dwarka District, under the CDC arrangement.
Manu Himanshu (DANIPS:2018), ACP (DE Cell), has been transferred and posted as DCP (DE Cell) under the CDC arrangement.
Sakaria Mihir Pravinbhai (DANIPS:2018), ACP (Operations), South East District, has been transferred and posted as Additional DCP-II, Outer District, under the CDC arrangement.
Garima Tiwari (DANIPS:2018), SDPO, Tilak Nagar, West District, has been transferred and posted as DCP (DSF), New Delhi District, under the CDC arrangement.
Ashish Kumar (DANIPS:2018), ACP (Special Cell), has been transferred and posted as DCP (EOW) under the CDC arrangement.
Manish Ladla (DANIPS:2018), ACP (Crime), has been transferred and posted as DCP (Crime) under the CDC arrangement.
Rohit Gupta (DANIPS:2018), ACP (Security), has been transferred and posted as DCP (Security) under the CDC arrangement.
Ram Dulesh Meena (DANIPS:2012), Additional DCP-II, North District, has been transferred and posted as Additional DCP-II, North-West District.
The Chhattisgarh Police has reacted to a viral video showing woman IPS officer Ankita Sharma (IPS:2018:CG) firing an AK-47 rifle during a traditional weapon-worship (Shastra Puja) ritual on Dussehra in Rajnandgaon. She is currently serving as Rajnandgaon SP.
Taking serious cognisance of the matter, the police headquarters on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to her.
The viral video showed Sharma, dressed in a saree, firing several rounds from an AK-47 into the air after the weapon-worship ritual. The video triggered a heated debate on social media over safety, discipline and weapon-handling protocols.
Rajnandgaon Range Inspector General Ajay Yadav (IPS:2004:CG) is reported to have admitted that Sharma fired the rifle after the traditional ‘Shastra Puja’ at Police Lines on October 20, on the occasion of Vijayadashami.
According to media reports, Yadav said that the headquarters had sought clarification over the apparent disregard for safety protocols, as negative comments on the viral video were damaging the dignity of the police force.
He is reportedly to have said that he would record his observations after receiving Sharma’s reply and forward the matter to the police headquarters. “Further action will be taken in accordance with the directions received from there,” the IG is quoted as saying.
But it was not an isolated incident. Even Rajnandgaon’s Additional SP Kirtan Rathore was seen firing an AK-47 after her in another video.
further, videos showing police personnel firing weapons after the ritual also came from other districts, including Raipur, Bilaspur, Raigarh, Durg, Kabirdham and Bastar.
Former IPS officers are also divided on the issue. A former IPS officer was of the view that firing should be carried out only at a safe location and with adequate precautions. He says the tradition is to worship weapons, not to fire them.
At the same time, another IPS officer is quoted as saying that firing blank rounds, commonly known as ‘awazi kartoos’, is part of the Shastra Puja tradition which is followed across the state. According to him, live ammunition is not used on such occasions.
Similarly, a retired Indian Army officer K J S Dhillon raised concerns over the way the weapons were fired, saying it was dangerously incorrect handling of a loaded weapon.
Another user, identifying himself as Colonel Deepak Kumar, also described the act as reckless and unprofessional, and questioned the woman officer’s handling of the rifle after firing.
It is not that Sharma has no supporters. Many social media users have defended her, arguing that the incident should not overshadow her professional record. Another user says she is a trained IPS officer and that criticism targeting her was partly due to her firing the rifle while wearing a saree.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad (IAS:1991:AP) has been granted a second six-month extension, until May 31, 2027. He was due to retire on November 30, as his tenure had previously been extended by six months, from June 1 to November 30, 2026.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued orders approving his extension.
The Andhra Pradesh government had written to the Centre on September 29, seeking a second extension for Sai Prasad to ensure continuity in the state administration.
The Union government has now accepted it.
Sai Prasad assumed charge as Chief Secretary on February 28, 2026, succeeding K. Vijayanand. He was earlier Ex-Officio Special Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister.
New Delhi: Setting aside all speculation, the Centre has appointed ONGC Executive Director Sunil Kumar as the next Chairman of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). The choice came amid speculation over a possible further extension for outgoing Chairman Arun Kumar Singh and discussions around the names of candidates shortlisted for the post. Instead, the government has picked an executive from within ONGC who will become the first chairman to rise directly from the Executive Director rank, whereas previous chairmen typically held board-level positions before taking charge.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved Kumar’s appointment on October 22, 2026, following a proposal from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas based on the recommendation of the Search-cum-Selection Committee. The committee held two rounds of interviews to select Singh’s successor.
Kumar will take charge on or after December 7, 2026, when Singh’s extended tenure ends. His appointment is for a combined tenure of three years, including a contractual stint after his superannuation on December 31, 2028.
Sunil Kumar’s name emerges after two rounds of interviews
The selection process had entered its final stage after 18 applicants were screened on August 18, with seven candidates shortlisted for interviews. The list included Oil India Limited CMD Ranjit Rath, ONGC Videsh Limited MD Rajarshi Gupta, ONGC directors Vikram Saxena and Satyam Kumar, ONGC Videsh Director Dulal Halder, MRPL Director Devendra Kumar and Indian Oil Corporation Director S P Shrivastava.
Rath was seen as a strong contender for the post and was making a second attempt after being shortlisted in the previous selection process. The government had subsequently extended Arun Kumar Singh’s tenure instead. This time, the Centre has chosen Sunil Kumar, an ONGC executive, to take over the reins of the company.
More than three decades with ONGC
Kumar joined ONGC in 1991 as an Assistant Executive Engineer (Production) in Assam. He has since worked across key exploration and production projects and is currently the Executive Director and Asset Manager of the company’s Mehsana Asset, a role he took up in January 2025.
During his career, Kumar played a key role in planning and executing ONGC’s first deepwater project, Vasistha & S1, on the East Coast. He also led the planning, coordination and execution of a major shallow-water subsea project involving the drilling, completion and bringing into production of 11 subsea wells. The project has been described as India’s largest shallow-water subsea project.
Kumar graduated in petroleum engineering from the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, now IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. He also holds a postgraduate qualification in business management, specialising in marketing and finance.
Arun Kumar Singh to leave office in December
Arun Kumar Singh took over as ONGC Chairman in December 2022 for a three-year term. His tenure was later extended, and he is due to leave office on December 6, 2026, with Kumar set to take charge from December 7.
Singh’s extension and the search for his successor had kept the leadership transition in focus. With Kumar’s appointment, the government has now named the person who will lead ONGC after Singh’s departure.
New Delhi: Two Indian Railway Stores Service (IRSS) officers of the 2005 batch have been empanelled for holding Joint Secretary or equivalent-level posts in the Government of India.
The notification regarding their empanelment was issued on October 21, 2026.
Chennai: K Phanindra Reddy, a retired IAS officer, has been appointed Chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TNRERA) as the Tamil Nadu government has reconstituted the state’s real estate regulatory body.
According to an order issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department, retired IAS officers Reeta Harish Thakkar and Mythili K Rajendran, retired district judge S Kirubaharan Mathuram, and retired Engineer-in-Chief KP Sathyamurthy have been appointed as members of the authority. The appointments were made following recommendations from the selection committee constituted for the purpose.
Reddy had earlier been appointed interim Chairperson of TNRERA after the state government superseded the authority in July 2026. During the interim arrangement, retired district judge A. Nazir Ahamed and Reeta Harish Thakkar were appointed as members for six months or until the authority was reconstituted, whichever was earlier. The arrangement was made under Section 82 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.
The latest reconstitution follows the resignations of former Chairperson Shiv Das Meena, a retired IAS officer who had held the post since August 18, 2024, and members L. Subramanian, D. Jagannathan, advocate M. Krishnamoorthy, and Sukumar Chittibabu, a former Chief Revenue Officer of the Greater Chennai Corporation.
TNRERA is a statutory authority established under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, to regulate the real estate sector in Tamil Nadu.
New Delhi: IRS officer Vivek Gupta (IRS-C&CE:2008) has been appointed Private Secretary to Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj, Prof. SP Singh Baghel, at the level of Director.
According to an Office Memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Thursday (October 22, 2026), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved his appointment in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying for a tenure up to October 31, 2029. The appointment will be effective from the date he assumes charge and will be for a maximum period of seven years outside his cadre in a single stint, or on a co-terminus basis with the Minister, or until he ceases to function as Private Secretary to the Minister, or until further orders, whichever occurs earliest.
In connection with the new assignment, the ACC has also approved the curtailment of Gupta’s tenure as Director in the Department of Financial Services under the Central Staffing Scheme.
New Delhi: Indian Economic Service officer A Srija (IES:1996) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat for a period of five years.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Thursday (October 22, 2026), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved her appointment for five years from the date she assumes charge of the post on or after November 15, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
She will succeed D Sai Amutha Devi (IP&TA&FS:1995), Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat (SR), with the post being temporarily downgraded to the level of Joint Secretary.
A Srija is currently serving as Economic Adviser in the Department of School Education and Literacy, a position she has held since June 2022.
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