Lucknow/Kanpur: In a significant shake-up within the Uttar Pradesh Police force, the state government on Monday transferred four senior IPS officers, including Kanpur Police Commissioner Akhil Kumar, who has been relieved after a month of appointment at the centre. The position now goes to Raghuveer Lal, a 1997-batch IPS officer currently posted as ADG (Security).
All Key IPS Transfers at a Glance
Raghubir Lal (IPS, 1997 batch):
- Appointed as Police Commissioner, Kanpur, replacing Akhil Kumar. He was earlier ADG (Security).
Akhil Kumar (IPS, 1994 batch):
- Relieved as Kanpur Police Commissioner. Already appointed as Managing Director & CEO of Digital India Corporation under the Ministry of Electronics and IT at the Centre.
Dipesh Juneja (IPS, 1992 batch):
- Relieved from the post of Director General (Prosecution), CID. Will Continue as DG, Prosecution, UP.
- Mr Juneja has been a longstanding figure in the prosecution department. He was appointed Additional Director General (ADG) of Prosecution on May 19, 2023. Following his promotion to Director General (DG) on January 1, 2025, he continued in the same role while also overseeing the CID as DG. Recently, he has been relieved of his CID duties to focus solely on prosecution.
Binod Kumar Singh, a 1994 batch IPS officer:
- Currently DG (Cyber Crime); given additional charge of DG, CID.
- Mr Singh has recently advanced from ADG to DG. He was promoted to DG on August 12, succeeding Anand Swarup, who went on central deputation. Initially without a new posting, Singh has now been assigned as DG of CID and has been given additional charge of Cyber Crime.
Tarun Gaba, a 2001-batch IPS officer:
- IG (Lucknow Range) appointed as IG (Security). Will continue holding charge of Lucknow Range as well.
- Mr Gaba has undergone several role changes. He was removed from his position as Police Commissioner of Prayagraj and reassigned as Inspector General (IG) of Lucknow Range, a post he has held before. He has also served extensively as Secretary in the Home Department. Recently, he has been appointed IG of Security, replacing Raghuveer Lal, the former ADG of Security Headquarters. Alongside his new responsibilities, IPS Gaba will retain additional charge as IG of Lucknow.
Raghuveer Lal Takes Charge Amid Caste Equations, Bureaucratic Flux
IPS Lal’s appointment comes amid speculation that caste dynamics influenced the decision. Currently, no ADG-rank officer is heading any police commissionerate or zone in Uttar Pradesh, making Lal’s posting an important balancing move within the cadre.
Originally from Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, IPS Lal has had a long stint on central deputation, including as Joint Secretary (Security) in the Lok Sabha Secretariat. His previous connection to Lucknow is notable – during the Mayawati regime, he was appointed as the first and only Superintendent of Law and Order, a role created specifically for him before the commissionerate system was rolled out in the state capital.
Akhil Kumar Moved to Centre as CEO of Digital India Corporation
Kanpur Police Commissioner Mr Kumar, a 1994-batch officer, is expected to be promoted to Director General (DG) next month, following the retirement of Abhay Kumar Prasad.
Although he was appointed as MD and CEO of Digital India Corporation on August 25, 2025, and the Home Department requested his immediate release on August 29, he has not yet been relieved from his current post. Sources indicate that Kumar prefers to receive the DG promotion before moving to his central deputation, which may delay his transfer until November.
What Happens to the Akhilesh Dubey Case?
One of the key concerns following Akhil Kumar’s exit is the status of the Akhilesh Dubey case, a sensitive matter that had stirred significant political and public attention in Kanpur.
Experts say the momentum of the case had already slowed down prior to Kumar’s transfer. It remains to be seen whether incoming Commissioner Raghuveer Lal will continue pushing the investigation with the same intensity, or if it will lose priority amid administrative reshuffling.
Kanpur Commissionerate: A Turbulent Track Record
The Kanpur Police Commissionerate has been marked by frequent changes and controversial exits since its inception in 2021.
- Asim Arun, the first police commissioner, left the service to join politics and is now a minister in the state government.
- Vijay Singh Meena was removed post the Kanpur riots, after only 7.5 months in office.
- BP Jogdand, his successor, lasted a year before being removed.
- RK Swarnkar faced complaints and was also relieved early.
- Akhil Kumar’s tenure ended amidst rising tension around the Akhilesh Dubey case.
This revolving door of police leadership has contributed to inconsistent law enforcement, low morale within the department, and increased public scrutiny.
