Dinkar Gupta is Punjab DGP

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 7

Dinkar Gupta, a 1987-batch IPS officer, today took over as the Director General of Punjab Police even as another contender and Gupta’s senior, DGP (Special Task Force) Mohd Mustafa, asked the government to relieve him from the post as he did not wish to work under his junior.

Gupta took over from DGP Suresh Arora, who has taken voluntary retirement. He was on a one-year extension till September 30. Arora and Gupta share a good equation. He said the government has waived his three-month notice period.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh issued Gupta’s orders earlier in the day. Gupta has superseded five officers, some of whom may move court. A major reshuffle in the police department is on the cards as these five officers may not be posted under him due to seniority issue. The five are Mustafa, Hardeep Dhillon, Jasminder Singh, Sidharth Chattopadhayaya and Samant Goel (on Central deputation).

The appointment, though made as per procedure laid down by the Supreme Court, threatens to trigger a fresh confrontation among DGP-rank contenders for the post.

Chattopadhayaya is already locked in a legal battle in the High Court with Gupta for allegedly patronising an SSP accused of protecting a drug-tainted Inspector.

Mohd Mustafa, who remained sidelined during the SAD-BJP alliance and had been eyeing the post after the Congress government took over in 2017, has gone vocal against the appointment.

“The DGP-STF reports to the DGP, Punjab. Under new circumstances, this is unacceptable to me, as I cannot serve under an officer junior to me. I have already informed the government verbally,” Mustafa told The Tribune. He has announced to move the SC against the alleged wrong panel formed by the UPSC.