The Election Commission of India on Tuesday (19.03.2024) appointed Sanjoy Mukherjee (IPS:1989:WB) as the next Director General of Police for West Bengal. Prior to this appointment, he held the position of DG & IGP, Fire & Emergency Services. It is expected that he will serve in this capacity until the conclusion of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
This decision came in the wake of Vivek Sahay (IPS:1988:WB), Director General of Police (Home Guard), being announced as an interim measure the day before. The need for a new Director General of Police arose after the Election Commission relieved the incumbent DGP Rajeev Kumar (IPS:1989:WB) of his duties. Subsequently, the state government reassigned him to his previous role as an Officer on Special Duty in the Information Technology and Electronics Department
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Vivek Sahay, being senior to Rajeev Kumar by one year, was appointed on an interim basis until the state government could provide a fresh panel of candidates. Since Rajeev Kumar’s removal was immediate, the position had to be filled promptly.
On the same day, the government put forward three candidates for the top post: Vivek Sahay, Sanjoy Mukherjee, and Dr. Rajesh Kumar (IPS:1990:WB) currently serving as the Member Secretary of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board.
Despite Vivek Sahay’s seniority, the central poll panel opted for Mukherjee for the position. There’s discussion in the power corridors that Sahay’s imminent retirement on May 31, just four days before the Lok Sabha election process concludes, was a factor that worked against him.
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Sanjay Mukherjee brings with him a wealth of experience, having previously served in various capacities within the Kolkata Police, including as deputy commissioner of police, deputy commissioner of headquarters, and additional director general of the CID. He later assumed the role of commissioner of the Barrackpore police commissionerate in 2011.
