dgp-gupta-s-tenure-in-doubt-after-union-ministry-letter

Jharkhand’s Director General of Police, Anurag Gupta, who was appointed by the state government through a new rule for DGP appointments on 2 February 2025, is unlikely to continue in the role after 30 April.

 

The Union Home Ministry has deemed the state government's decision to extend the service of 1990 batch IPS officer Anurag Gupta after his appointment as DGP as incorrect.

 

JDU MLA Saryu Roy shared a post regarding this on X. Citing a letter from the Union Home Ministry, Roy stated that Gupta's tenure as DGP will end on 30 April.

 

Roy added that state government officials had informed Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who is currently abroad, about the letter.

 

Notably, 1989 batch IPS officer Ajay Kumar Singh was appointed to the DGP position of Jharkhand in February 2023, but was replaced by the state government with Anurag Gupta as in-charge DGP on 26 July 2024.

 

However, during the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections, the Election Commission removed Anurag Gupta from the in-charge DGP post. Ajay Kumar Singh was reinstated until the elections concluded.

 

Following the election results, on 28 November 2024, the state government reappointed Anurag Gupta as in-charge DGP. On 2 February 2025, Gupta was made the full-time DGP.

 

Previously, there had been a dispute between the UPSC and the state government over the DGP panel. The state government had amended its rules to align with those of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.

 

With the consent of the state cabinet, and based on a resolution, a committee chaired by a retired justice recommended Anurag Gupta’s appointment as the regular DGP.

 

Following these developments, state BJP president Babulal Marandi filed a petition, claiming that Anurag Gupta's appointment as DGP was in contempt of a Supreme Court order.

 

He argued that without serious allegations, Ajay Kumar Singh, who was scheduled to serve until 14 February 2025, had been removed from the post.

 

Now, the state government is in a difficult position regarding the continuation of Anurag Gupta as DGP. Officials are awaiting the return of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who is due to return to Ranchi today after a lengthy tour of Spain and Sweden.