Who will be the new police chief of Gujarat? is a question that is being discussed in the bureaucratic corridors in Gujarat.

With Director General of Police (DGP) Vikas Sahay set to retire by the end of June, there is already a buzz in police circles about the next top cop. The cause of the discussion is the ongoing ‘cold war’ within the Gujarat Police. 

Lobbying within the Indian Police Service community has already begun, with some pushing for an extension for DGP Sahay, while others aim to seize the opportunity. Currently, the Haryana and Rajasthan lobbies are the strongest, and there is a belief that the ongoing ‘cold war’ among senior officers might create problems for the government. 

Discussions are brewing that the government may appoint a non-controversial officer who understands the current crime situation, avoiding conflict. One possible scenario could be that Sahay receives a three-month extension or Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police G S Malik is appointed DGP.

Senior-most officer Dr Shamsher Singh has been transferred to a central deputation, leading to several names being speculated. IPS Manoj Agrawal from the 1991 batch will retire in September, so it seems unlikely he will be appointed DGP for a few months. 

Under such circumstances, the current head of the jail department, Dr K L N Rao, is the most senior officer.

Dr Rao, from the 1992 batch, is set to retire in October 2027. If he is appointed, his tenure would be long, but his long-standing side-track posting in the jail department and his perceived distance from the government make his appointment less likely. Consequently, G S Malik, the current Ahmedabad CP seems to be the most likely candidate for DGP.

CP Malik, although not the senior-most officer of the 1993 batch and originally from Haryana, has made a significant impression on the BJP high command with his work during his deputation at the Centre and his time as BSF Commander. He has served in key positions in Gujarat, including as Additional Commissioner of Police in Vadodara, Joint Commissioner of Police in Ahmedabad Special Branch, and as the Home Secretary. 

Despite his relatively lower position in the seniority list, his broad experience in both the police and home departments makes Malik a top contender for DGP.

There are several reasons behind the speculation that the current Ahmedabad CP could become DGP, surpassing other senior officers. In the past, Gujarat’s IPS lobby was dominated by the south and north lobbies, but currently, the Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Gujarat lobbies are actively lobbying within the system. 

Moreover, a shift in mentality is taking place within the Gujarat Police. Newer officers are no longer expected to follow traditional practices of showing deference to seniors. In the past, it was customary for junior officers to visit their seniors after a transfer, but this practice has diminished. There is now a shift towards a more professional, less hierarchical structure in the force.

Furthermore, an incident involving a young IPS officer, who was seen attending a Coldplay concert while on duty in Ahmedabad, has become a topic of discussion within the police force. Despite being assigned duty at the event, the officer was reportedly on leave due to illness and was later seen enjoying the concert in casual attire, which raised eyebrows among colleagues.

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