Shimla: More than three months after the Punjab and Haryana High Court suspended his life sentence in the custodial death case linked to the 2017 Kotkhai rape-murder investigation, Zahur Haider Zaidi has been appointed as Inspector General of Police (IGP), Police Academy Training and Research, Shimla by the Himachal Pradesh government.
The appointment was notified on Tuesday as part of a wider reshuffle involving senior IPS officers in the state.
Zaidi, a 1994-batch IPS officer, had earlier been convicted by a special CBI court in Chandigarh in connection with the custodial death of a suspect during the investigation into the widely discussed Kotkhai case.
Appointment Comes After High Court Suspended Life Sentence
In December last year, the Punjab and Haryana High Court suspended the life sentence awarded to Zaidi in the custodial death case.
The High Court, while granting relief, noted contradictions in the conspiracy theory presented by the Central Bureau of Investigation and observed that Zaidi was not physically present at the police station when the custodial death occurred.
The court’s observations became a key factor in the suspension of the sentence pending further legal proceedings.
Conviction Linked to Custodial Death During Kotkhai Investigation
Zaidi’s legal controversy stems from the investigation into the 2017 rape and murder case of a schoolgirl in Kotkhai, widely known as the Gudiya case.
At that time, he was serving as Inspector General and heading the Special Investigation Team constituted to investigate the crime.
During the investigation, one of the accused, Suraj Singh, died in police custody on July 18, 2017.
Following this, the CBI took over the probe and later arrested Zaidi along with seven other police personnel on charges including murder and criminal conspiracy.
In January 2025, a special CBI court in Chandigarh sentenced him to life imprisonment.
State Government Restores Officer to Active Role
Following judicial relief in December 2025, the Himachal Pradesh government has now brought Zaidi back into an active senior police role.
He has been assigned to the Police Academy Training and Research establishment in Shimla, a significant institutional posting linked to police training, professional development and research functions.
Who Is Zahur Haider Zaidi?
Mr Zaidi belongs to the 1994 batch of the Himachal Pradesh cadre of the Indian Police Service.
Born in Lucknow in 1968, he holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and later completed a Master’s degree in Police Management.
He cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 1993 and joined IPS the following year.
Career Includes National and International Assignments
Over the course of his career, Zaidi has held several major police assignments in Himachal Pradesh.
- These include postings as IG Traffic, IG Law and Order, and IG Southern Range.
- He also served internationally as a Commander in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Kosovo during 2005–2006.
In another overseas assignment, he worked as Director at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Cultural Centre.
Awards and Literary Contributions
Zaidi has received the Police Medal in 2010 and also holds a UN Medal for international service.
He is also known for literary work, having authored the book Cop at Large.
He additionally co-authored a coffee table publication on Himachal Pradesh Police titled Himachal Pradesh Police: The Guardians of the Hills.
Legal Proceedings Continue Despite Administrative Return
Although the High Court suspended the sentence, the legal proceedings related to the custodial death case remain under judicial process.
His posting marks an important administrative development because it restores a senior IPS officer to active service while litigation remains pending.
The appointment is likely to attract wider attention given the long-standing public memory attached to the Kotkhai case.
Other Senior IPS Transfers Announced
Along with Zaidi’s posting, the state government transferred three other IPS officers.
- Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, former Senior Superintendent of Police of Shimla, has been posted as Deputy Inspector General (Traffic, Tourist and Railways), Shimla.
- Gurdev Chand Sharma has been appointed DIG (Law and Order), Shimla.
- Amit Yadav will take charge as Commandant, 2nd Indian Reserve Battalion, Sakoh, Kangra.
The transfer order was issued by Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta.
