Gujarat Government Appoints Senior IPS K. L. Rao As In-charge Police Chief

The Home Department took the decision after the six-month extension of the outgoing police chief Vikas Sahay came to an end. The appointment of a full-time DGP will be made at a later stage.

The newly appointed in-charge DGP has served in various capacities across the state. At present, he is posted as Director General of Police, CID (Crime and Railways), and has been given the additional charge of DGP. Earlier, he also served as the head of the Prisons Department.

During his tenure there, he initiated several reform-oriented programmes, including “Khel Hai To Jeevan Hai”. His role and guidance in prison reforms have been widely acknowledged on official and social media platforms, particularly for initiatives aimed at rehabilitation, positive engagement, and morale-building among inmates.

Traditionally, the post of state police chief is held by a senior-most officer. In the Gujarat cadre, the senior-most IPS officer is 1991-batch Dr. Shamsher Singh, who is currently on deputation in New Delhi. The next in line, Manoj Agrawal, retired in September. Vikas Sahay was formally given a farewell on his last working day.

Dr. Rao’s academic credentials include an MSc, PhD, a Diploma in Management, and training at IIM Bengaluru. He is a native of Telangana. For some time, there had been speculation around several names for the DGP post, including Ahmedabad Police Commissioner and 1993-batch IPS officer Gyanendra Singh Malik.

Ultimately, the government has made the appointment on the basis of seniority, assigning Dr. Rao the role on an in-charge basis for now.

Notably, during his service, Dr. Rao has held several key field and policy-making positions. He brings extensive experience in law and order, intelligence, investigations, institutional reforms, and prison administration. He is also regarded as adept at Centre–State coordination and handling sensitive, high-profile cases.