Raipur: The Government of Chhattisgarh has appointed 1992 batch IPS officer Arun Dev Gautam as the full-time Director General of Police (DGP) of Chhattisgarh, formally ending his nearly 17-month stint as the acting chief of the state police force.
A highly decorated IPS officer with more than three decades of service, Gautam has held key field, administrative and counter-insurgency assignments in both undivided Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Before his elevation, he served as Director General of Civil Defence and also held the additional charge of Director of Public Prosecution. Earlier, he was Home Secretary to the Chhattisgarh government and oversaw portfolios including prisons, transport, home guards and fire services.
Humble Beginnings in Uttar Pradesh
IPS Gautam was born on July 2, 1967, in Abhaypur village of Fatehpur district, Uttar Pradesh, to Krishna Bahadur Singh and Shanti Devi, who belonged to a modest farming family.
Read Also: Arun Dev Gautam: The Village Boy Now Leading India’s Toughest Anti-Naxal Battle
He completed his early education in government schools and later studied at Government Inter College in Allahabad (now Prayagraj).
Academic Excellence: From Allahabad University to JNU
He has a strong academic background.
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Master of Arts (M.A.) in Political Science from University of Allahabad
- M.Phil. in International Law from Jawaharlal Nehru University
He cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination on his second attempt and joined the Indian Police Service on October 12, 1992.
Career Began in Undivided Madhya Pradesh
Initially allotted to the Madhya Pradesh cadre, Gautam’s early postings included:
- IPS Trainee in Jabalpur
- City Superintendent of Police (CSP), Bilaspur
- Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDOP), Kawardha
- Additional Superintendent of Police, Bhopal
After the formation of Chhattisgarh in 2000, he opted for the Chhattisgarh cadre.
Superintendent of Police in Six Key Districts
Mr Gautam earned a strong reputation while serving as Superintendent of Police in:
- Koriya
- Raigarh
- Jashpur
- Rajnandgaon
- Sarguja
- Bilaspur
Following the 2009 Naxal attack in Rajnandgaon, he was tasked with restoring stability and strengthening security operations in the region.
Bastar Posting After the Jhiram Valley Attack
One of the most critical assignments of his career came after the 2013 Jhiram Valley attack, in which several senior Congress leaders were killed.
Gautam was appointed Inspector General of Bastar and successfully managed security arrangements for subsequent Assembly elections, ensuring significantly higher voter turnout despite intense insurgency threats.
Senior Leadership Roles
Over the years, Gautam has served in several high-profile positions, including:
- Director General of Civil Defence
- Director of Public Prosecution (additional charge)
- Home Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh
- Head of Chhattisgarh Armed Force
- Inspector General, Bilaspur Range
- Senior positions in CID, Police Headquarters and Chief Minister Security
National and International Honours
His distinguished service has earned him several prestigious awards:
- United Nations Medal (2002) for peacekeeping service in Kosovo
- Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service (2010)
- President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service (2018)
Personal Life
Arun Dev Gautam married Jyoti Gautam in 1994. The couple has two sons:
- Akshat Gautam, a lecturer in Bhubaneswar
- Dr. Tanmay Gautam, a government doctor in Bilaspur
He is also known to be a devoted follower of Lord Hanuman and maintains close spiritual ties with the Lete Hanuman Temple in Prayagraj.
What His Appointment Means for Chhattisgarh
As full-time DGP, Gautam is expected to focus on:
- Strengthening anti-Naxal operations
- Modernizing police systems and technology
- Enhancing law and order management
- Improving training and welfare of police personnel
His blend of field expertise, academic depth and administrative experience is expected to provide strong and stable leadership to the Chhattisgarh Police.
