In a major administrative overhaul aimed at strengthening leadership across key policing verticals, the Punjab Government has ordered the transfer and promotion of 22 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, including two Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs). The orders, issued by the Department of Home Affairs, have come into effect with immediate effect on administrative grounds and span crucial wings such as intelligence, human rights, anti-narcotics, crime, vigilance and district policing.
One of the most prominent appointments in the reshuffle is that of Jyoti Yadav, wife of Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, who has been posted as SSP, Bathinda. The exercise is also marked by a significant number of promotions, particularly involving 2011 and 2012 batch officers, signalling a clear generational transition in senior police leadership in the state.
Key Senior-Level Changes
At the senior level, Naresh Kumar, who was serving as Special DGP (Human Rights), Punjab, has been transferred as Special DGP, Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC), Chandigarh. Kaustubh Sharma, earlier IGP, Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), has been promoted to the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP – Human Rights).
Jagadale Nilambari Vijay, previously DIG, Faridkot Range, has been elevated to IGP, ANTF, Punjab, with headquarters at SAS Nagar, while also holding additional charge as IGP, Faridkot Range.
Promotions Across 2011–12 Batches Signal Leadership Shift
Among the 2011-batch officers, Rajpal Singh has been promoted as IGP, Crime, Punjab, with additional charge of IGP, PAP-2. Snehdeep Sharma has been elevated as DIG, AGTF, Ludhiana, along with additional charge of DIG, Ferozepur Range, while Sandeep Goel has been retained and promoted as DIG, Border Range, Amritsar. Jasdev Singh Sidhu has been promoted as DIG, Security, Punjab Lok Bhavan, Chandigarh.
Several 2012-batch IPS officers have also been promoted to the rank of DIG. Sandeep Kumar Garg has been posted in Intelligence, Dhruv Dahiya and Gulneet Singh Khurana in Counter-Intelligence, and Akhil Chaudhary in the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF).
District Postings and Vigilance Assignments
Other notable changes include Amardeep Singh Rai, who has been reassigned as Special DGP, Traffic and Road Safety, with additional charge of Special DGP, Public Grievances Division. Amneet Kondal has been posted as DIG, Personnel, Punjab, while Gurpreet Singh is now DIG, CDO, Patiala. Rupinder Singh has been appointed Additional Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, and Sarabjit Singh has taken over as DIG, Crime, Bureau of Investigation.
Further, Harpreet Singh Jaggi has been posted as DIG, Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Vigilance Bureau, and Ravjot Grewal (Services) has been placed at the disposal of the Vigilance Bureau. At the district level, Maninder Singh has been appointed SSP, Rupnagar, replacing Gulneet Singh Khurana, while Darpan Ahluwalia has taken charge as SSP, Khanna, replacing Jyoti Yadav. Rishabh Bhola has been posted as Staff Officer to the DGP, Punjab.
The reshuffle is widely seen as a strategic move to reinforce Punjab Police’s operational leadership, particularly in priority areas such as anti-narcotics operations, intelligence gathering, vigilance enforcement and district-level policing.
