The Kerala government has initiated the process of selecting a new state police chief to replace Shaik Darvesh Saheb, whose tenure ends on June 30. The first step in this process involves reaching out to six senior IPS officers who have completed 30 years of service, asking them to express their interest and submit their resumes for consideration.
These officers will be considered for inclusion in a list of potential candidates to be forwarded to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The six officers approached are:
- Nitin Agrawal (DGP, 1990 batch) – The seniormost among the probables, Nitin had previously served as the BSF Director General before returning to Kerala as the Road Safety Commissioner. He is set to retire in June 2026.
- Ravada A Chandrasekhar (DGP, 1991 batch) – Currently serving as a special director at the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Ravada is scheduled to retire in June 2026.
- Yogesh Gupta (DGP, 1993 batch) – The current director of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Yogesh’s tenure extends until 2030.
- Manoj Abraham (ADGP, 1994 batch) – Serving as the ADGP of law and order, Manoj will retire in 2031.
- S. Suresh (ADGP, 1995 batch) – Currently an additional director with the Special Protection Group (SPG), Suresh’s tenure will continue until 2031. He is also considered a potential candidate for the director role at IB or SPG.
- M. R. Ajith Kumar (ADGP, 1995 batch) – Serving as the ADGP of the Armed Police Battalion, Ajith Kumar will retire in December 2028.
Ravada and Suresh, both currently working in prominent organizations like the IB and SPG, might not be keen to pursue the top police chief position as they have high-profile roles and potential future leadership opportunities in these agencies.
By April, the Kerala government will forward the list of these officers to the UPSC, which will shortlist three candidates. The final selection will be made by the state government from this shortlist.
