Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Thursday carried out a major reshuffle in the Indian Police Service (IPS) cadre, issuing fresh postings to several senior and junior officers across the state. A notification to this effect was issued by the Home Department, marking a significant administrative rejig aimed at improving law enforcement efficiency and strengthening specialized policing wings.
Key Senior-Level Appointments
Dr. Santosh Bala (IPS:1995) has been appointed as Director, State Forensic Science Laboratory, bringing her extensive experience to the critical domain of forensic investigations.
S. Praveen Kumar (IPS:2002) has been posted as Inspector General of Police (Provisioning).
Gajbhiye Satish Kumar Iswardas (IPS:2002) will now serve as IG, Special Armed Police, focusing on specialized operations.
Sanjay Kumar Kaushal (IPS:2003) has been given charge as IG, Economic Offences Wing (EOW) – a crucial post amid increasing financial crime challenges.
Mid-Level Changes in Key Investigative Roles
Awinash Kumar (IPS:2007) has been appointed as Director, State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB).
Dr. Satyajit Naik (IPS:2008) will now serve as DIG, Central Range.
Pinak Mishra (IPS:2011) has been posted as DIG, Eastern Range, taking charge of police operations in the eastern districts.
District-Level and Field Postings for Younger Officers
Several officers from the 2013 to 2021 batches have been given SP-level assignments, particularly in strategic districts and key law enforcement branches:
Parmar Smit Parshottamdas (IPS:2013) – SP, Crime Branch
Vivekanand Sharma (IPS:2014) – SP, Khordha
Prateek Singh (IPS:2014) – SP, Puri
Pratyush Diwaker (IPS:2015) – SP, Balasore
Vinit Agrawal (IPS:2016) – SP, Cuttack (Rural)
Raj Prasad (IPS:2018) – SP, Special Branch
Gundala Reddy Raghavendra (IPS:2019) – SP, Jharsuguda
Ankit Kumar Verma (IPS:2021) – SP, Jagatsinghpur
Amritpal Singh (IPS:2021) – SP, Nuapada
Amritpal Kaur (IPS:2021) – SP, Sundargarh
OPS Officer Included in Reshuffle
Bhawani Shankar Udgata, an officer of the Odisha Police Service (OPS), has been posted as SP, Railway, Cuttack, a key logistical zone.
Administrative Significance
This reshuffle reflects the Odisha government’s continued focus on streamlining the state’s policing structure, ensuring experienced leadership in forensic and economic crime investigation, and empowering young officers with field responsibilities. The posting of multiple young IPS officers to SP-level positions suggests a generational transition in leadership across several districts.
