AN Roy is frontrunner for state’s top police job

Anti-Corruption Bureau Director General Anami Narayan Roy, who was given additional charge as Maharashtra Director General of Police (DGP) on Saturday, after S.S. Virk’s retirement, appears to be the favourite in the race for the state police’s top job, reports HT Correspondent.

Anti-Corruption Bureau Director General Anami Narayan Roy, who was given additional charge as Maharashtra Director General of Police (DGP) on Saturday, after S.S. Virk’s retirement, appears to be the favourite in the race for the state police’s top job.

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In its order, the government made it clear that Roy was given “temporary” charge as he is the most senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer in the state after Virk’s retirement. The state said he would hold charge till a regular DGP is appointed.

It also indicated the appointment of a regular DGP would need adherence to “procedure”, which was not followed while appointing Roy to that job in February 2008, when he had superseded three of his seniors — Virk, S. Chakravarty and J.D. Virkar. That decision was challenged by Chakravarty, and the high court removed Roy from the DGP’s office in March.

This time, though, Roy stands to benefit if the government follows procedure and goes by seniority — Roy, a 1972 batch IPS officer, is now the seniormost. The two other contenders for the post are Director General Special Operations Jayant Umranikar (1973) and Director General, Police Housing Corporation, Hasan Gafoor (1974).

Umrakinar retires at the end of this month, Gafoor has another year left. Roy will retire in May 2010, unless given an extension.