The Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government has reinstated senior IPS officer Rajeev Kumar as the Director General of Police (DGP) despite ongoing controversies surrounding his tenure. Mr Kumar, a 1989 batch IPS officer, assumed the top police post on December 31, 2023, only to be transferred to a non-electoral role by the Election Commission of India (ECI) ahead of the recent Lok Sabha elections.
Simultaneously, IPS officer Sanjay Mukherjee, who was appointed by the Election Commission as DGP during the elections, has been transferred to the post of DG Fire Services.
Known for his close association with CM Mamata Banerjee, Kumar’s career has been marked by turbulence, notably during his tenure as Kolkata Police commissioner when he faced accusations from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding the Saradha chit fund scam. The allegations against him centered on the suppression of evidence during his leadership of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the scam, which rocked West Bengal in 2013.
When the CBI began taking action against Rajiv Kumar for tampering with evidence in the Saradha and Rose Valley chit fund scams, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a dharna in 2019.
Earlier this year, when he was removed from the post of DGP during the Lok Sabha elections, he was transferred to the position of Secretary in the Information Technology Department. Kumar was initially praised as an efficient officer at the start of his career and has also held the top post of the Special Task Force (STF).
He was the DG during the turmoil in the state over the Sandeshkhali issue before the elections. Mr Kumar has also served as the Commissioner of Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate and Kolkata Police.
The BJP has been critical of Kumar’s reinstatement, accusing the state government of favoritism. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari characterized Kumar’s appointment as the elevation of “Mamata’s servant” to the helm of the state police force.
In response to the controversy, the West Bengal government defended its decision, emphasizing Kumar’s experience and capabilities. Prior to his reinstatement as DGP, Kumar had been serving as the additional chief secretary in the Department of Information Technology and Electronics.
Despite the political uproar, Kumar’s reinstatement underscores Mamata Banerjee’s unwavering support for the officer, whom she considers a trusted ally. The decision comes amid a backdrop of heightened political tensions in West Bengal, with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and opposition parties engaged in a fierce battle for influence ahead of upcoming state elections.
