Patna: With Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar’s two-year tenure set to reach its scheduled end in December 2026, discussions have begun over who could take charge as the next head of the state police.
Among the names currently being discussed in bureaucratic and police circles are three senior Bihar-cadre IPS officers — Kundan Krishnan (IPS:1994:BH), Jitendra Kumar (IPS:1993:BH) and Amit Kumar (IPS:1994:BH).
All three are now at the Director General level and have extensive experience, although their career profiles are markedly different. Jitendra Kumar is the senior-most of the three by batch, while Kundan Krishnan has built a reputation around field policing and operational command. Amit Kumar brings experience of senior assignments in Bihar as well as central deputation in specialised security organisations.
The eventual selection, however, will depend on the government’s decision and the prescribed process. The names being discussed at this stage should therefore be viewed as potential contenders rather than a final panel.
Why the Bihar DGP Post Is in Focus
Vinay Kumar, a 1991-batch Bihar-cadre IPS officer, was appointed Bihar DGP in December 2024, replacing Alok Raj. At the time of his appointment, the state government said his tenure would be for two years or until further orders.
With that two-year period approaching its scheduled conclusion in December 2026, attention has naturally turned to the senior officers who could be considered for the state’s top police post.
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The 2026 IPS Civil List places Jitendra Kumar, Kundan Krishnan and Amit Kumar among Bihar’s senior DG-level officers. Jitendra Kumar belongs to the 1993 batch, while Kundan Krishnan and Amit Kumar are both from the 1994 batch.
Kundan Krishnan: Strong Operational Experience
Kundan Krishnan, a 1994-batch Bihar-cadre IPS officer, is among the most prominent names being discussed for the post.
The 2026 IPS Civil List records him at Level 16, with his current assignment listed as DGP, Headquarters, with additional charge of DG (Operations), STF, and OSD, RCO Bihar Bhawan, New Delhi.
Krishnan has spent a substantial part of his career in Bihar and has handled several sensitive policing and administrative responsibilities. His earlier assignments have included ADG Headquarters and ADG Operations, giving him experience both in police headquarters administration and field-oriented operations.
He also served on central deputation as an ADG in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) before returning to his home cadre in late 2024. The Ministry of Home Affairs had relieved him from central deputation in November 2024 to enable him to return to Bihar.
His career has also been marked by several high-profile policing episodes.
The Chhapra Jail Operation
One of the defining episodes of Krishnan’s career came in 2002, when he was serving as Superintendent of Police in Saran.
Around 1,200 prisoners took control of Chhapra divisional jail following unrest triggered by an order to transfer five prisoners. The inmates reportedly took control of parts of the prison, seized weapons and held the jail staff hostage.
Krishnan, along with then SHO Arjun Lal and constable Jitendra Singh, took the extraordinary step of scaling the jail walls and entering the prison complex. The operation eventually ended the three-day siege.
More than two decades later, the episode was formally recognised when Krishnan, Lal and Singh were awarded the Medal for Gallantry in 2026.
The episode remains one of the most frequently cited examples of Krishnan’s operational style and has contributed to his reputation as a tough field officer.
Awards and Senior Assignments
Krishnan has received the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2010 and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2022, according to the IPS Civil List.
His combination of headquarters experience, field policing and central deputation makes him one of the prominent names being discussed for the DGP post.
Jitendra Kumar: Senior-Most Among the Three
Jitendra Kumar, a 1993-batch Bihar-cadre IPS officer, is the senior-most among the three names currently in discussion by batch.
The 2026 IPS Civil List records him as a DG-level officer at Level 16. He is currently associated with the Central Selection Board, with additional charge as DGP, Bihar Special Armed Police (BSAP), Patna.
Kumar originally belongs to Uttar Pradesh and holds a B.Tech degree. Unlike some senior officers who have spent considerable periods outside the cadre, his career has involved extensive service in Bihar.
His experience includes important field and headquarters assignments. He has served as ADG, Crime Investigation Department (CID) and has also handled responsibilities associated with the police recruitment and selection machinery.
His long association with Bihar Police’s administrative and operational structure gives him considerable familiarity with the state’s law-and-order framework.
Promoted to DG Rank in 2025
Jitendra Kumar was promoted to the Director General rank in 2025. The 2026 IPS Civil List places him at Level 16 and records his current assignment involving the Central Selection Board and BSAP.
He has also been decorated with the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2016 and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2009.
His seniority, long Bihar experience and familiarity with both field policing and police headquarters make him another important name in the succession discussions.
Amit Kumar: Central Deputation and National Security Experience
The third prominent name is Amit Kumar, another 1994-batch Bihar-cadre IPS officer.
The 2026 IPS Civil List identifies Kumar as a direct-recruit IPS officer, with a M.Tech degree, and records him at Level 16. The latest civil-list entry available through the Ministry of Home Affairs lists him as SDG, CRPF, following his senior central deputation assignments.
Kumar has held several important positions in Bihar, including Special Secretary (Home) and ADG, Railways.
His career subsequently took him to the Centre, where he served in senior positions in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and later moved into the specialised security establishment associated with the Special Protection Group (SPG).
Recent reports have identified him as being given a senior responsibility in the SPG, bringing him into the country’s high-level national-security and VIP-protection architecture.
His experience therefore differs significantly from that of the other two contenders. While Krishnan’s profile is strongly associated with Bihar’s field and operational policing, and Jitendra Kumar’s with cadre-based administration and policing, Amit Kumar brings substantial experience from central security organisations.
Awards and Career
Amit Kumar has been awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2010 and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2020, according to the 2026 IPS Civil List.
His experience across Bihar Police, the CRPF and specialised central security assignments could become an important factor if the government considers an officer with extensive national-security exposure for the state’s top police post.
Three Officers, Three Distinct Profiles
The three names currently being discussed bring different strengths to the potential succession process.
Kundan Krishnan has a strong Bihar-centric profile combining field policing, headquarters administration and operations. His experience as ADG Headquarters and ADG Operations, along with his recent DG-level responsibilities in STF and Special Branch-related assignments, gives him substantial operational exposure.
Jitendra Kumar, the senior-most of the three by batch, has extensive experience within Bihar Police and has held important assignments including CID and BSAP-related responsibilities. His seniority is one of the factors that could put him prominently in consideration.
Amit Kumar, meanwhile, offers a different profile, with senior Bihar assignments followed by substantial central deputation experience in organisations dealing with internal security and specialised protection.
This makes the potential contest particularly interesting because the three officers are not identical in terms of career trajectory.
Seniority vs Experience: What Could Shape the Selection?
The eventual choice is likely to involve several considerations rather than batch seniority alone.
The government could weigh the officers’ seniority, experience in Bihar, operational background, current rank and assignment, administrative record, central deputation experience and suitability for leading the state police at a politically and administratively significant juncture.
The fact that Jitendra Kumar belongs to the 1993 batch, while Kundan Krishnan and Amit Kumar belong to the 1994 batch, gives Kumar an advantage in terms of seniority among the three. However, the final decision cannot be predicted solely on the basis of batch.
Kundan Krishnan’s recent elevation to DG rank and his operational responsibilities, Jitendra Kumar’s long Bihar experience and seniority, and Amit Kumar’s national-security background could all figure in the government’s assessment.
The Race Is Still Open
At this stage, there is no final decision on Bihar’s next DGP.
The three names – Kundan Krishnan, Jitendra Kumar and Amit Kumar – are currently among those being discussed, but the eventual process could involve other eligible senior officers as well.
The official selection process and the government’s assessment will determine who eventually succeeds Vinay Kumar.
For now, the succession race has brought three senior IPS officers into focus: a veteran of Bihar’s operational policing in Kundan Krishnan, the senior-most contender by batch in Jitendra Kumar, and a senior officer with extensive central-security experience in Amit Kumar.
With December 2026 approaching, the contest for the top police post in Bihar is likely to become clearer in the coming months.
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