Delhi Police Chief’s exit or extension? Power corridors abuzz as Sanjay Arora’s fate hangs in balance

With Sanjay Arora set for farewell on July 31, intense lobbying and suspense grip Delhi over who will be the next Police Commissioner.

By
LO Bureau
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As Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora (IPS:1988:TN) prepares to relinquish office on July 31, after completing a full three-year term, the power corridors are thick with speculation—and suspense.

A ceremonial farewell parade, scheduled to be held at New Police Lines on the morning of July 31, has added fuel to the speculation that the incumbent may not get an extension. The official note, circulated on July 28, instructs various Delhi Police units to ensure a grand send-off—typically seen as the final chapter of a top cop’s tenure.

But in Delhi’s high-stakes power theatre, nothing is ever final—until it is.

Despite signs pointing to his retirement, insiders say the possibility of a surprise extension cannot be ruled out entirely. Arora still has supporters within the establishment. As one senior official quipped off the record, “In Delhi, the real decision is made in the last hours.”

The Succession Puzzle

If the Centre decides not to extend Sanjay Arora’s tenure, the question gripping bureaucratic and political circles is: Who will lead Delhi Police next?

The lobbying has intensified, with names being tossed around both from within the AGMUT cadre and outside it. The suspense has reached such a level that even senior officers are tight-lipped, citing “no clarity from the top.”

From the AGMUT cadre, three names have emerged as potential contenders:

  1. Shashi Bhushan Kumar Singh (IPS:1988:AGMUT) – Currently DG, Home Guards, Delhi
  2. Satish Golcha (IPS:1992:AGMUT) – DG, Prisons, Delhi
  3. Praveer Ranjan (IPS:1993:AGMUT) – Special DG, CISF

Meanwhile, two heavyweight contenders from outside the cadre are also being speculated:

  1. Gyanendra Pratap Singh (IPS:1991:AM) – Presently DG, CRPF
  2. Shatrujeet Singh (IPS:1990:HY) – Current DGP of Haryana

All eyes are now on the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office. In a city as diplomatically sensitive and politically volatile as Delhi, the Commissioner of Police is not just a law enforcement role—it is a strategic appointment.

And so, with just a day left before the scheduled farewell, Delhi’s corridors of power remain on edge—watching, waiting, and whispering.

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