The Andhra Pradesh government has appointed Harish Kumar Gupta as the new Director General of Police (DGP) under full additional charge, effective Wednesday. Gupta, a 1992 batch IPS officer, takes over the position following the retirement of D Tirumala Rao, who will superannuate on January 31.
Gupta, who has been serving as the Director General of Vigilance and Enforcement, will lead the police force until further orders. A government order confirmed his appointment, stating, “Harish Kumar Gupta, IPS (1992), Director General, Vigilance and Enforcement, and Ex-officio Principal Secretary to government, is placed in full additional charge of the post of DGP (head of police force) until further orders.”
D Tirumala Rao, who had served as the DGP (coordination), will retire from service after January 31. However, in a significant move, Rao has been re-employed as the Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transportation Corporation (APSRTC) for a one-year term, starting February 1.
Gupta’s appointment to the DGP post follows his temporary assignment by the Election Commission during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where he briefly held the position before being replaced by Rao after the TDP-led NDA government took charge. During the election period, Gupta was appointed by the Election Commission, following political concerns and a reshuffling within the state’s police leadership.
Gupta’s name, along with other senior IPS officers such as Dwaraka Tirumala Rao and Madireddy Pratap, was among those considered for the DGP role. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu ultimately chose Gupta for the position.
As Gupta assumes the role, sources indicate that Dwaraka Tirumala Rao may continue in his role as the Managing Director of APSRTC post-retirement, further cementing his continued influence in the state’s public sector after stepping down as the state’s top cop.
Gupta, originally from Jammu and Kashmir, now leads the police force of Andhra Pradesh, navigating critical tasks related to law enforcement and public safety in the state.
