Few police officers in recent times have occupied as much political, legal, and administrative space as Rajeev Kumar, the Director General of Police of West Bengal. Admired by some as a sharp professional and viewed by others through the prism of controversy, Kumar’s career reflects the complex intersection of policing, politics, and power in contemporary India.
Reinstated as the state’s top cop in July 2024, soon after the Lok Sabha elections, Kumar returned to an office he had briefly held earlier – before being removed on the Election Commission’s directions. With retirement due in early 2026, his final stint as DGP is being closely watched within bureaucratic and political circles alike.
ROOTS AND EDUCATION
Rajeev Kumar hails from Chandausi in Uttar Pradesh. He studied Computer Science Engineering at the University of Roorkee, now IIT Roorkee, at a time when technology was just beginning to reshape governance and policing.
He comes from an academically inclined family. His grandfather, Professor Ramsaran, was a former Member of Parliament from Moradabad, popularly known as “Moradabad’s Gandhi.” His father, Professor Anand Kumar, taught at SM Degree College in Chandausi. These early influences shaped Kumar’s interest in public life and administration.
ENTRY INTO THE IPS
Kumar joined the Indian Police Service in 1989, from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, and later spent the bulk of his career in West Bengal. Over the years, he held several important operational and intelligence-related assignments, gradually emerging as a key figure in the state’s policing framework.
He served as Commissioner of Police, Bidhannagar, and also headed the Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police, dealing with organised crime and complex investigations.
A SHORT FIRST TERM AS CP KOLKATA
In February 2016, Kumar was appointed Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, but his first stint lasted barely two months. During the West Bengal Assembly elections that year, the Election Commission of India removed him from the post.
After the elections, he was reinstated in May 2016 and continued as Kolkata Police Commissioner until February 2019. His tenure coincided with several sensitive investigations and growing central-state friction.
CID AND THE SARADHA SHADOW
In February 2019, Kumar was appointed Additional Director General of Police, CID, West Bengal. It was during this period that the long-running Saradha chit fund case returned to haunt him.
The CBI accused Kumar of tampering with electronic evidence linked to the multi-crore Ponzi scheme, which had affected nearly 1.8 million depositors across eastern India. The allegations included denial of access to key evidence, including a locker linked to Saradha chief Sudipto Sen’s wife.
Kumar denied the charges. The issue escalated into a major federal confrontation, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee staging a sit-in protest, publicly backing Kumar and calling him “the best police officer in the world.”
LEGAL RELIEF AND POLITICAL QUIET
After years of pursuit, the Supreme Court rejected the CBI’s appeal against Kumar, effectively ending the case against him. Interestingly, the issue faded from political discourse after 2019 and was not prominently raised during the 2021 Assembly elections or the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Despite legal relief, the episode left a lasting imprint on Kumar’s career.
A SHIFT TO TECHNOLOGY AND ADMINISTRATION
In December 2019, Kumar moved out of core policing and was appointed Principal Secretary, Information Technology Department, Government of West Bengal. He later served as Additional Chief Secretary (IT), a post he held until June 2025.
This phase marked a shift from law enforcement to policy and digital governance, where his technical background proved useful.
RISE TO THE TOP
Following the retirement of 1988-batch IPS officer Manoj Malaviya, Rajeev Kumar was promoted and appointed Director General of Police, West Bengal, in December 2023.
However, ahead of the 2024 general elections, the Election Commission once again removed him, posting another officer in his place. Once the elections concluded, the Mamata Banerjee government reinstated Kumar as DGP on July 15, 2024, replacing Sanjoy Mukherjee.
STRAINS WITHIN THE SYSTEMS
In recent months, reports of internal friction have surfaced. There has been speculation about differences between Kumar and the political leadership, including over the handling of controversial political figures and internal police morale.
With no extension expected beyond his retirement in early 2026, insiders suggest the state is already preparing for a post-Kumar administrative setup.
PERSONAL LIFE
Mr Kumar’s connection with Bengal is unlikely to end soon. His wife, Sanchita Kumar, a former IRS officer, currently serves as an Information Commissioner in West Bengal, keeping the family firmly rooted in the state’s public institutions.
A CAREER THAT DIVIDE OPINION
Rajeev Kumar’s journey is neither linear nor quiet. It has been marked by influence, controversy, political backing, and legal scrutiny. Whether seen as a professional wronged by institutions or a powerful officer at the heart of political battles, his career mirrors the evolving nature of policing in India’s federal structure.
As his tenure nears its end, one thing is clear – Rajeev Kumar’s name will remain part of West Bengal’s bureaucratic and political memory long after he steps out of uniform.
