Bhubaneswar: The race for the next Director General of Police (DGP) of Odisha has entered a crucial phase, with 1994-batch IPS officer Sanjeeb Panda emerging as one of the strongest contenders for the state’s top police post.
Panda’s prospects have received a significant boost with the Odisha government approving his promotion to the Director General (DG) rank on August 10, 2026. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also approved the promotion of Panda’s 1994-batch colleague Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa to the DG rank.
The development assumes significance as incumbent Odisha DGP Y B Khurania (IPS:1990) is scheduled to retire on August 16. The Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) empanelment process for the next state police chief has also remained inconclusive, leaving the final race open.
Sanjeeb Panda Emerges As Strong Contender
Panda, who has more than three decades of policing experience, is currently serving as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Anti-Naxal Operations, with additional responsibility for the Special Intelligence Wing (SIW).
His experience in anti-Naxal operations and intelligence is being seen as an important advantage at a time when internal security and the elimination of Left-Wing Extremism remain major priorities for the Centre and states.
According to government sources, Panda’s elevation to the DG rank was being closely watched because it could strengthen his eligibility and position in the DGP selection process.
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The state government will eventually have to select one officer from the panel of three names shortlisted by the UPSC. With Panda now in the DG rank, his candidature is expected to receive greater attention in the next stage of the process.
UPSC Empanelment Process Remains Inconclusive
The selection of Odisha’s next DGP has not followed a straightforward path.
The UPSC’s Empanelment Committee Meeting (ECM), held on August 7 to consider the names of senior IPS officers for the Odisha DGP post, did not result in a final shortlist of three officers, according to reports.
The UPSC process is significant because the state government cannot simply appoint any serving IPS officer as DGP. Under the established procedure, the UPSC panel shortlists eligible officers and the state government chooses the next police chief from that panel.
With the empanelment process remaining inconclusive, Panda’s elevation to the DG rank becomes particularly important. Once the relevant departmental promotion process is completed, the state can forward an updated panel to the UPSC for consideration.
The final decision will then rest with the Odisha government after the UPSC shortlists the eligible names.
Why Sanjeeb Panda Has An Edge
Although several senior officers are in contention, Panda is believed to have gained ground because of his operational background and recent responsibilities.
The 1994-batch officer has handled anti-Naxal operations and intelligence, two areas that have assumed considerable importance in Odisha’s policing strategy.
His current assignment as ADGP, Anti-Naxal Operations, along with the Special Intelligence Wing, has placed him at the centre of the state’s internal-security apparatus.
Odisha has also made significant progress in tackling Left-Wing Extremism, in line with the Union government’s objective of making India Naxal-free by March 2026. Panda’s role in the state’s anti-Naxal architecture is therefore being viewed as a factor that could work in his favour.
Who Are The Other Senior Contenders?
IPS Panda is not the only officer in the race.
Sudhanshu Sarangi (IPS:1990), the senior-most serving officer among the prominent contenders, is currently posted as DG, Fire Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence.
Another important contender is R P Koche (IPS:1993), who is serving as Director, Intelligence, and is in the DG grade.
The Odisha Police’s official civil list identifies Sarangi as a 1990-batch officer, Koche as a 1993-batch officer and Panda as a 1994-batch officer.
Panda’s lower seniority compared with Sarangi and Koche does not necessarily rule him out. His operational experience, intelligence background and elevation to the DG rank have strengthened his position in the ongoing selection exercise.
Susanta Kumar Nath Factor
Another name that had figured prominently in the DGP race was Susanta Kumar Nath (IPS:1993), who was serving as DG, Prisons and Correctional Services.
However, his position is understood to have weakened amid reports of adverse feedback allegedly received from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Odisha Police recruitment controversy.
Nath had headed the Odisha Police Recruitment Board when the alleged Sub-Inspector recruitment scam surfaced.
The issue has consequently become an important factor in the calculations surrounding the seniority and suitability of officers for the top police post.
With Nath’s position affected, Panda’s relative standing among the potential contenders has improved.
From ADGP Anti-Naxal Operations To DG Rank
Mr Panda’s elevation is the latest milestone in a career spanning more than 30 years.
An Odisha-cadre IPS officer of the 1994 batch, Panda was recruited through the UPSC Civil Services Examination as a direct-recruit officer. He joined the Indian Police Service on September 3, 1995.
According to official Odisha government records, Panda was born on July 7, 1968, and has an engineering and technology background. The state’s civil-list records mention his qualifications as B.Tech in Electronics and Telecommunication from IIT Madras and M.Tech in Integrated Electronics and Circuits from IIT Delhi.
His career has seen him serve in several important operational, intelligence and administrative positions across Odisha.
Early Career: District Policing And Field Experience
Mr Panda’s early career included postings as Superintendent of Police in important and sensitive districts, including Puri and Rourkela.
These assignments gave him extensive experience in district-level policing, law and order management and criminal investigations.
He later moved into senior field positions, serving as DIG of the South-Western Range, an area that has historically been important from the perspective of Left-Wing Extremism.
His subsequent elevation to the IG level further expanded his responsibilities within the Odisha Police.
Intelligence And Crime Branch Experience
Mr Panda has also handled some of the state police’s most sensitive assignments.
In 2022, he was appointed Director, Intelligence, after serving as ADG, Crime Branch. At the time, his appointment was viewed as significant because of the importance of intelligence gathering in dealing with organised crime, security threats and extremist activities.
His experience in intelligence later became an important part of his profile for senior leadership positions.
He has also served as ADGP, Training, and as Director of the Biju Patnaik State Police Academy (BPSPA), giving him exposure to police training, capacity building and institutional administration.
Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissioner
One of the most prominent assignments of his career came when Mr Panda served as Commissioner of Police of the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate.
The Twin City Commissionerate is one of the most high-profile policing assignments in Odisha, involving urban law and order, cybercrime, traffic management, organised crime and public safety.
His tenure added significant urban-policing experience to a career that had already included district, intelligence and anti-insurgency responsibilities.
Anti-Naxal Operations: A Key Part Of His Profile
IPS Panda’s current anti-Naxal assignment is arguably one of the strongest aspects of his candidature.
As ADGP, Anti-Naxal Operations, he has been associated with Odisha’s strategy to tackle Left-Wing Extremism and weaken insurgent networks in the state’s former red corridors.
His additional charge of the Special Intelligence Wing has also placed him in a position where intelligence inputs and field operations converge.
This combination of intelligence, anti-Naxal operations and field policing gives Panda a broad operational profile at a time when internal security remains a major priority for the Odisha government.
Award For Meritorious Service
IPS Panda has also been recognised for his policing career.
He received the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2010, an honour awarded in recognition of distinguished service in the police force. A government honours list from 2010 records Panda, then serving as DIG of the South-Western Range, among the recipients.
The award is another marker of his long service record.
Engineering And Technology Background
IPS Panda’s educational background is also notable.
He holds a B.Tech in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from IIT Madras and an M.Tech in Integrated Electronics and Circuits from IIT Delhi, according to Odisha government records.
His technical education has complemented a career that has increasingly involved intelligence, technology-enabled policing and modern law-enforcement systems.
More Than Three Decades In The IPS
Panda joined the IPS in 1995 and has now completed more than three decades in service.
His career trajectory has taken him through almost every major layer of policing — from district-level SP assignments to range leadership, intelligence, crime branch, police training, commissionerate policing and anti-Naxal operations.
That breadth of experience is one of the reasons his name has gained traction in the DGP race despite being from the 1994 batch and junior in seniority to several other contenders.
What Happens Next In Odisha DGP Selection?
The immediate focus is now on the next stage of the UPSC empanelment process.
The state government is expected to forward an updated panel after the elevation of eligible officers to the DG rank. The UPSC will then have to shortlist three officers, from whom the Odisha government will select the next DGP.
With Khurania scheduled to retire on August 16, the timeline is tight.
Panda’s promotion to DG rank has therefore come at a critical juncture. While his elevation does not automatically make him the next DGP, it removes one potential hurdle from his candidature and puts him firmly among the officers being watched for the top police post.
For now, Sarangi’s seniority, Koche’s DG-grade status and Panda’s operational and anti-Naxal profile make the contest particularly interesting.
The final choice, however, will depend on the UPSC shortlist and the subsequent decision of the Odisha government.
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