Odisha DGP Selection Takes Dramatic Turn; Sanjeeb Panda Emerges as Strong Contender

UPSC likely to hold another meeting on August 13; race for Odisha’s next police chief intensifies

Bhubaneswar : The selection process for Odisha’s next Director General of Police (DGP) has taken a fresh turn, with 1994-batch IPS officer Sanjeeb Panda emerging as a strong contender for the state’s top police post.

The Odisha government has promoted Sanjeeb Panda and his batchmate Yashwant Jethwa to the rank of DGP. Their names have reportedly been forwarded to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as the process to select the successor to incumbent DGP Y.B. Khurania gathers momentum.

The UPSC selection committee had met in New Delhi on August 7 to consider the eligible senior IPS officers. Sudhanshu Sarangi, Susanta Kumar Nath and R.P. Koche were among the prominent names reportedly under consideration.

However, the selection process remained inconclusive after concerns were raised over the vigilance clearance of Susanta Kumar Nath in connection with the Odisha Police Recruitment Board examination case. The committee is understood to have sought additional documents and information from the Odisha government.

The latest promotions of Panda and Jethwa have now widened the field and added a new dimension to the DGP selection race.

The UPSC is expected to meet again on August 13 to take the process forward. Following the UPSC recommendation, the Odisha government will select the next DGP from the panel.

The tenure of incumbent DGP Y.B. Khurania is scheduled to end on August 16, making the appointment of his successor a matter of immediate importance.

With the next UPSC meeting approaching, attention is now focused on whether Sanjeeb Panda will make it to the final panel and emerge as Odisha’s next police chief.