Senior Woman Cop In Line For Odisha DGP Post Takes VRS; Minor Rejig In IPS Cadre

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has approved the voluntary retirement of senior IPS Officer B Radhika, whose name had been doing the rounds as one of the three contenders for the post of director general of police (DGP).

The 1989-batch officer was appointed as Chairperson of State Police Recruitment Board last month after returning from central deputation. She was also in additional charge State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL), Odisha, as its Director.

“B Radhika, at present Chairman, Police Recruitment Board, with the additional charge of Director, S.F.S.L, Odisha, is allowed to retire voluntarily from the Indian Police Service w.e.f. 01.02.2024,” an official notification said on Wednesday.

The senior woman IPS officer had previously received a proforma promotion to the rank of Director General (DG) in the Odisha Police while serving as the Additional Director General (ADG) of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. She was prematurely repatriated to the cadre on November 8.

If picked, Radhika would have been the first woman to hold the DGP’s post in Odisha. She is the first Odisha-cadre female IPS officer.

In a related development, the government also effected a minor reshuffle in state IPS cadre.

According to the notification issued by the Home department, ADGP, Railways & Costal Security, Dayal Gangwar has been transferred and posted as ADGP, Modernisation. His predecessor, Rajesh Kumar, has been posted as ADGP, Railways & Costal Security, with additional charge of Director, SFSL

Similarly, Awinash Kumar, who is serving as DIG of Police, SAP, has been transferred and posted as Additional CP, Commissionerate of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack.

His predecessor, Brijesh Kumar Ray, has been transferred and posted as DIG of Police, Intelligence in-charge, Security Wing, the notification added.