Gandhinagar: The Gujarat Government has appointed senior IPS officer Gyanender Singh Malik (GS Malik) as the new Director General of Police (DGP), ending nearly five months of interim leadership at the helm of the state’s police force.
A 1993-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Gujarat cadre, Malik succeeds Dr. KLN Rao, a 1992-batch IPS officer who had been holding additional charge of the post since January 1, 2026, following the retirement of former DGP Vikas Sahay. Rao will continue to serve as Director General of CID Crime and Jails.
Malik, who was serving as Ahmedabad Police Commissioner before his elevation, becomes Gujarat’s top police officer after a distinguished career spanning more than three decades across state policing, border security, central armed police forces, and international peacekeeping assignments.
His appointment was made from a panel of three names forwarded to the Gujarat Government by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines governing the appointment of state police chiefs.
The appointment will also pave the way for the selection of a new Ahmedabad Police Commissioner.
Second Officer to Rise Directly from Ahmedabad CP to Gujarat DGP
An interesting milestone in Gujarat Police history is that GS Malik has become only the second officer to move directly from the post of Ahmedabad Police Commissioner to that of Director General of Police.
Before him, former IPS officer Ashish Bhatia had also made the transition from Ahmedabad Police Commissioner to Gujarat DGP.
Malik had been serving as Ahmedabad Police Commissioner since July 27, 2023, and was promoted to the DGP rank in April 2024.
A Haryana Native with Strong Academic Credentials
Originally from Faridabad in Haryana, Malik has an impressive educational background.
He completed his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, and later earned an LL.B. degree from Gujarat University.
Before entering the IPS, Malik worked with the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) at Bombay High and also served briefly with the Indian Railways.
After successfully clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination, he was allotted the Gujarat cadre and began his policing career as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Bhuj.
Extensive Experience Across Gujarat Police
Over the years, Malik has held numerous key assignments across Gujarat.
As Superintendent of Police (SP), he served in:
- Dangs
- Porbandar
- Surendranagar
- Ahmedabad Rural
- Bharuch
- Kutch
He also headed several important police ranges as Inspector General (IG), including:
- Border Range
- Ahmedabad Range
- Vadodara Range
- Surat Range
His career includes important positions such as:
- Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), Ahmedabad
- Additional Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad
- Additional Commissioner of Police, Vadodara
- ADC to the Governor of Gujarat
- Senior assignments in CID Crime
- CID Intelligence
- Anti-Corruption Bureau
- Prohibition and Excise Department
- Home Department
International Exposure: UN Peacekeeping Mission in Kosovo
One of the defining chapters of Malik’s career came in 2002 when he served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Kosovo.
During his year-long assignment, he was associated with investigations into war crimes, providing him with valuable international policing and conflict-management experience.
Distinguished Service in BSF and CISF
IPS Malik also spent several years on Central deputation.
He served nearly four years as Inspector General of the Border Security Force (BSF) Gujarat Frontier, where he supervised critical security operations along India’s western border.
One of his most notable achievements during this period was a helicopter-borne operation in the Harami Nala region of Kutch that resulted in:
- Seizure of 11 Pakistani boats
- Capture of six Pakistani intruders
Following his BSF tenure, he joined the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as Additional Director General (ADG).
In CISF, he held charge of:
- North Sector
- Airport Sector
Both assignments were based in New Delhi and involved oversight of critical infrastructure security.
Ahmedabad Commissioner Who Led Landmark Chandola Lake Operation
IPS Malik’s tenure as Ahmedabad Police Commissioner brought him significant public attention.
He spearheaded one of the largest anti-encroachment drives in Gujarat’s history around Chandola Lake.
The operation resulted in:
- Clearance of nearly four lakh square metres of government land
- Removal of over 10,000 illegal structures
- Demolition of approximately 12,500 residential, commercial and religious encroachments
- Peaceful execution without any major law-and-order incident
The operation also included action against illegal Bangladeshi settlements in the area.
Under Malik’s leadership, authorities detained and deported 465 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from Ahmedabad.
The anti-encroachment campaign gained widespread attention because of its scale and because it was completed without significant unrest despite the sensitive nature of the exercise.
His efforts later inspired a broader statewide initiative known as “Operation Delta Hunt.”
Tough Officer Known for Taking on Powerful Figures
IPS Malik has long been regarded within Gujarat Police as a firm, upright and fearless officer.
While serving as Superintendent of Police in Bharuch, he arrested influential local MLA and strongman Chhotu Vasava.
During his tenure as SP of Porbandar, he took strong action that reportedly compelled Santokhben Jadeja, popularly known as the “Godmother” of Gujarat, to leave the city.
These actions significantly contributed to his reputation as a no-nonsense police officer.
Technology-Driven Policing and Surveillance Expansion
Mr Malik has been a strong advocate of technology-led policing.
During his tenure in Ahmedabad, the city witnessed a major expansion of surveillance infrastructure through community participation.
Key achievements include:
- Installation of more than 24,000 CCTV cameras across Ahmedabad
- Direct integration of over 3,000 cameras with police stations and control rooms
- Monitoring of nearly 4,000 government and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation cameras
Police officials credit this network with strengthening crime prevention, investigation and public safety.
His modern policing initiatives are also credited with contributing to lower crime rates and improved urban security management.
Recruitment Reforms and Record Constable Hiring
Between 2014 and 2018, Mr Malik headed the Gujarat Police Recruitment Board on three separate occasions.
During this period:
- Nearly 24,000 police constables were recruited
- Recruitment exercises were completed in less than ten months each time
- Examination and selection processes were conducted peacefully and efficiently
The rapid completion of recruitment cycles was widely regarded as an administrative achievement.
Social and Welfare Initiatives
Beyond law enforcement, Malik has also been associated with social development initiatives.
While serving as Joint Commissioner of Police in Vadodara, he played a significant role in transforming a dilapidated rented school into a fully functional independent model school serving around 300 students.
He also launched “Mission Fit Khaki,” a programme aimed at improving the health, fitness and well-being of police personnel, emphasizing the welfare of officers working under stressful conditions.
Decorated Officer with Distinguished Service Record
Throughout his career, Malik has received several prestigious honours.
These include:
- Police Medal for Meritorious Service (2010)
- President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service (2017)
The awards recognize his long and distinguished service record in policing and administration.
Sports Enthusiast and Fitness Advocate
Outside policing, Malik is known for his active involvement in sports.
He has won medals in:
- Horse riding
- Tent pegging
- Pistol shooting
- Tennis
- Table tennis
- Golf
He continues to play badminton regularly and is also known to enjoy chess.
Colleagues say he often starts his day with a badminton session, reflecting the fitness-oriented approach he encourages among police personnel.
Appointment Ends Months of Speculation
Speculation regarding Malik’s elevation had intensified since April 2026, when he was elected President of the Gujarat IPS Association.
He was also considered a strong contender for the DGP post when former police chief Vikas Sahay retired.
The post of Head of Police Force had remained effectively vacant since December 31, 2025, after Sahay retired at the end of his extended tenure.
Although KLN Rao had been given additional charge and many observers expected him to eventually become full-time DGP, the Gujarat Government ultimately chose Malik for the position.
The decision followed months of discussions and administrative deliberations surrounding succession planning in the state’s police leadership.
New Chapter for Gujarat Police
With extensive experience in district policing, intelligence operations, border security, central armed police forces, recruitment reforms, international peacekeeping and metropolitan policing, GS Malik assumes office as Gujarat’s Director General of Police at a significant time.
His leadership is expected to shape Gujarat Police’s future focus on technology-driven policing, internal reforms, border security coordination, urban surveillance systems, crime prevention and community engagement.
As Gujarat’s new police chief, Malik brings a rare blend of field experience, administrative expertise, national security exposure and international policing credentials to the state’s highest law enforcement position.
Read Also: New Manipur DGP Mukesh Singh Calls for Coordination Among Forces as Centre Deploys CoBRA Battalions
