Karnataka DGP Praveen Sood is set to become CBI Director later this month. The newly elected state government will have to choose his successor. However, the preparation of a list of senior IPS officers eligible for the post of DGP, which is to be forwarded to the UPSC, awaits the new dispensation to take charge.
Three senior IPS officers are in the fray to become state police chief. Alok Mohan (IPS:1987:KN) is the senior most IPS officer in the cadre and the topmost contender for the post. He is DGP and Commandant-General, Home Guards, DG of Fire and Emergency Services, and State Disaster Management and is set to retire from service in April 2025. The next in line as per seniority is Kamal Pant (IPS:1990:KN). He is DGP, Recruitment, and is set to retire from service in June 2024. CH Pratap Reddy (IPS:1991:KN), DGP/Police Commissioner of Bengaluru is also in the race. He will retire in July 2024.
The state government has to prepare a list of senior most eligible IPS officers for the post of DGP and send it to the UPSC for approval. A committee consisting of UPSC Chairman, Union Home Secretary, Chief of one of the Central Forces, Chief Secretary of State, and DGP will prepare a final panel of three IPS officers and forward it to the state government. The state government can appoint any of them from the panel as police chief.
