In a significant development for West Bengal's law enforcement apparatus, IPS officer Vivek Sahay has been appointed as the new Director General of Police (DGP) for the state. This move comes as the Election Commission (EC) has decided to replace the outgoing DGP, Rajeev Kumar, citing reasons related to electoral management.
Vivek Sahay, a seasoned 1988-batch IPS officer, previously held the positions of Director General and Commandant General for Home Guards. His appointment marks a pivotal moment in the state's security administration, replacing an officer with a track record of electoral duty controversies.
The Election Commission's decision to remove Rajeev Kumar stems from past incidents during electoral periods. Rajeev Kumar had been previously removed from active election management duties during the 2016 assembly elections in Bengal and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Furthermore, Vivek Sahay's own history includes a suspension by the EC in 2021, when he served as the acting director of security for Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee. The suspension was linked to lapses that allegedly contributed to an incident resulting in Banerjee's leg injury during a political event in Nandigram on March 10, 2021.
IPS officer Vivek Sahay appointed as the next DGP of West Bengal after the Election Commission today removed the DGP of West Bengal. pic.twitter.com/i7AU1fgfVj
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2024
The removal of Rajeev Kumar has sparked reactions from various political quarters. West Bengal Congress President Adhir Chowdhury welcomed the decision, stating, "He (the DGP) was into the flattery of the party in power (TMC), especially the government, so that the people know that he won't work without the orders of the government. We have registered many complaints, as he wasn't listening to the people's grievances even after being the DGP. It's a good decision, and we are happy with this."
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