G S Malik appointed new DGP of Gujarat

Ahmedabad: In a sudden move, the home department on Saturday issued a notification appointing 1993-batch IPS officer Gyanender Singh Malik as the new head of the Gujarat police force and the director general of police (DGP). Malik, who is currently serving as police commissioner of Ahmedabad city, has been appointed to the post over the DGP in charge, Dr K L N Rao, a 1991-batch IPS officer and his senior in service.Malik spent nearly five years on central deputation, including four years as inspector general of the Gujarat Frontier, Border Security Force. During his tenure, 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. He also served with the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Kosovo in 2002, where he was associated with war-crime investigations.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.Sources in the home department said that three names were considered for the DGP’s appointment — Rao, Malik, and Neerja Gotru, a 1993-batch IPS officer who is currently serving as DGP, Police Recruitment Board. Malik was eventually selected. Rao is due to retire in Oct 2027.Sources in the state home department said that Rao’s name was not viewed favourably as he reportedly failed to inspire sufficient confidence among the political bosses.Rao was appointed Gujarat’s DGP in charge after the retirement of the 1989-batch IPS officer, Vikas Sahay, who served as DGP for two years and 10 months. Rao is likely to be appointed DGP, civil defence, or be assigned to the Police Housing Board. He is also holding charge of CID (crime) and Railways.Earlier, it was widely speculated that Rao would be appointed DGP owing to his seniority and stature, which made him the frontrunner for the post. Rao was made the in charge DGP as his senior, 1991-batch IPS officer Shamsher Singh was still in service.Though Singh was repatriated from central deputation to the state, he was not made the DGP, and he retired in March. This led to the speculation that Rao would be made full-time DGP.However, Malik was chosen instead. The appointment also continues the trend of Ahmedabad police commissioners being elevated to the state’s top police post. Sahay was the only recent exception, having been elevated from his position as DGP (training), Gandhinagar.With Malik moving to the state’s top police post, the search for a new Ahmedabad police commissioner has begun. Several names are under consideration by the state home department, including special director in the CBI Manoj Sashidhar (1994 batch), Vadodara city police commissioner Narsimha Komar (1996 batch), and Surat police commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot (1997 batch).Among the names viewed favourably within sections of the police fraternity is Anti-Corruption Bureau director Piyush Patel of the 1998 batch. Sources in the city police said that joint commissioner of police (crime) Sharad Singhal is likely to be appointed the in charge Ahmedabad police commissioner.