Ranchi: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has reportedly turned down the Jharkhand government’s request to extend the tenure of Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Gupta, an IPS officer of 1990 batch from Jharkhand, beyond April 30, 2025.
On 3 February 2025, he was officially appointed as the permanent DGP of Jharkhand. Prior to this, he had been serving as the acting DGP while also holding additional responsibilities as DG of CID and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). The Home Department of Jharkhand later issued a formal notification confirming his appointment as the permanent DGP, stating that he would serve in this position for the next two years.
According to official sources, the MHA communicated to Chief Minister Hemant Soren that any continuation of Anurag Gupta’s service beyond April 30 would be inappropriate, effectively confirming the end of his tenure. The communication was received by senior state officials and subsequently forwarded to the Chief Minister, who is currently on a foreign tour.
The development comes amid speculation over possible successors and growing scrutiny over police leadership in the state.
Mr Gupta, originally hails from Punjab, has had a long and eventful tenure, and his retirement is expected to set the stage for a significant administrative shift in Jharkhand’s top police ranks.
He joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) on 20 August 1990. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. After completing his engineering studies, he began preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination and was eventually selected for the IPS.
Before being appointed as Director General of Police (DGP), Mr Gupta held several key positions in various districts, including Garhwa, Giridih, Hazaribagh, and Ranchi. He served as Superintendent of Police (SP) in Garhwa, Giridih, and Hazaribagh, and as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Ranchi. He also served for an extended period as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Bokaro Range. In addition, he held the roles of Additional Director General (ADG) of the Special Branch and Director General (DG) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), during which his team was instrumental in arresting several cyber criminals.
However, his career has not been without controversy. He was suspended by the Hemant Soren-led government in 2020 following allegations that he attempted to influence the 2016 Rajya Sabha elections by persuading then Congress MLA Nirmala Devi of Barkagaon to vote in favor of the BJP candidate, and allegedly threatening her husband, former minister Yogendra Sao. He remained under suspension for nearly two years, until April 2022, when he was reinstated by the government.
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