Bhubaneswar: With Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania’s two-year tenure set to conclude on August 16, 2026, the Odisha Police Headquarters has forwarded a panel of three eligible DGP-rank officers to the state government.
According to sources, the list, comprising Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi (1990 batch), Susanta Kumar Nath (1993 batch), and R P Koche (1993 batch), will be submitted to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) next month for the selection process.
Odisha currently has a limited pool of DGP-rank officers. Besides Khurania, the others are Sarangi (currently DG, Fire Services and Civil Defence), Nath (Inspector General of the Border Security Force), Koche (Director, Intelligence), and Vinaytosh Mishra (DG, Crime Branch, 1993 batch). Mishra is ineligible as he retires on November 3, 2026, falling short of the mandatory minimum six months of residual service from the vacancy date.
Speculation in police circles points to Sarangi and Koche as strong contenders, given seniority and service records.
Sarangi, a 1990-batch officer with a PhD in Psychology, has earlier served as Commissioner of Police for Bhubaneswar-Cuttack. He has expertise in policing, fire services, and public administration. Koche, on the other hand, is known for his operational acumen in intelligence, anti-terror, and organised crime.
Selection Procedure and UPSC Guidelines
As per the established procedure, states must propose a panel of DGP-rank officers meeting seniority and eligibility criteria, ensuring at least six months of service remaining. The UPSC reviews the panel, shortlists three names based on merit, service records, and range of experience, after which the state government appoints one as DGP.
“Since Odisha already has three eligible DGP-ranked officers, no additional names are required. If necessary, more names may be recommended in case of exclusions due to pending proceedings,” a senior government official noted,
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