Race For Next Maharashtra DGP Heats Up, UPSC Receives Names Of Senior IPS Officers

Keeping in view the new process of selecting a DGP in a state following a Supreme Court ruling, the Maharashtra government has shortlisted senior IPS officers. It has sent the list to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to suggest to the state a panel of three officers, one of whom will be appointed to the top police post.   

The list of senior IPS officers of Maharashtra cadre on the fray includes Sadanand Date, Sanjay Verma, Ritesh Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar Singhal, Archana Tyagi, and Sanjeev Kumar.

Sources said that the UPSC, since it has received the shortlisted names, would now examine the credentials of the officers and recommend a panel of three names to the State government, which will then make the final selection for the top police job in the state.

Among the contenders, Sadanand Date’s tenure is noteworthy as he is scheduled to retire on December 31, 2026, giving him a longer potential run in the top office if selected. He is currently on Central deputation and is heading the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

However, there has been a significant omission in the list of shortlisted candidates: Amitabh Gupta. He is currently on Central deputation and serving with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

The appointment process adheres to the Supreme Court’s directives in the Prakash Singh v/s Union of India case. The Court had mandated that only officers with at least six months of service remaining before retirement are eligible. It also ruled that the UPSC must prepare a panel of three officers based on merit, seniority, and service record, and the State government will then make the final appointment from the recommended names.

According to the sources, the UPSC is expected to meet on the subject in the coming weeks to finalise the probable names who would be given the leadership role in the Maharashtra Police.

Meanwhile, sources said that the Home Department of the State government aimed to ensure a smooth transition in the State police leadership, avoiding any administrative vacuum during the transition period, and this is the reason why the shortlisted names have been forwarded to the UPSC two months in advance.