In a surprising move, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Gyanender Singh Malik (IPS:1993:GJ) has been appointed as the new chief of the Gujarat police force. The state Home Department issued a notification to this effect on Saturday. Malik has been appointed to the top post over his senior and acting DGP Dr K L N Rao (IPS:1991:GJ).
According to Home Department sources, three names were considered for this top post, including Rao, Malik, and one Neerja Gotru (IPS:1993:GJ). Gotru is currently posted as DGP, Police Recruitment Board. But Malik was finally picked for the post. Rao is going to retire in Oct 2027.
If sources are to be believed, Rao was not favoured to be confirmed in the DGP role, as he reportedly did not enjoy the full confidence of the political bosses.
It should be recalled here that Rao was appointed Gujarat’s acting DGP after the retirement of Vikas Sahay (IPS:1989:GJ) from the DGP post after serving for more than two years. Now with Malik appointed to the post, Rao is likely to be appointed DGP, Civil Defence, or is deputed as the Police Housing Board chief. He is also in charge of CID (crime) and Railways.
The fact is it was widely speculated that Rao would be appointed DGP owing to his seniority and stature, on the basis of which he was considered the frontrunner for the post. Plus, he had been chosen as the DGP in charge over his senior Shamsher Singh (IPS: 1991:GJ), who was still in service. Singh’s retirement in March led to the strong speculation that Rao would surely be made full-time DGP.
However, Malik walked away with the cake. Malik’s appointment also continues the trend of Ahmedabad Police Commissioners being elevated to the top state police post. Sahay was the only recent exception, having been elevated from his position as DGP (training), Gandhinagar.
Malik has a wide range of policing experience. During his tenure on central deputation as IG of the Gujarat Frontier and Border Security Force (BSF), he supervised a heliborne operation in Harami Nala in Kutch that led to the seizure of 11 Pakistani boats and the capture of six Pakistani intruders. Besides, he also served with the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Kosovo in 2002.
As the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, Malik oversaw the clearance of nearly 4 lakh square metres of govt land around Chandola Lake and the removal of more than 10,000 illegal structures.
Now, with Malik’s elevation to the top post, the search for his successor as Ahmedabad Police Commissioner has begun. Several names are reported to be under consideration, including CBI’s Special Director Manoj Sashidhar (IPS:1994:GJ), Vadodara Police Commissioner Narsimha Komar (IPS:1996:GJ), and Surat Police chief Anupam Singh Gehlot (IPS:1997:GJ).
But, interestingly, the name being cited within sections of the state police fraternity is Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director Piyush Patel (IPS:1998:GJ). In between, police sources say that Joint Police Commissioner (crime) Sharad Singhal (IPS:2006:GJ) may be appointed the in-charge Ahmedabad Police Commissioner.
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