DGP Neeraj Sinha retires, remembers Budha Pahad liberation in his goodbye speech

1987 batch IPS officer Neeraj Sinha bid farewell today after completing his tenure as Director General of Police (DGP). On the occasion, a farewell parade was organized at JAP-1 ground in Doranda where many police officers including DG Ajay Kumar Singh, DG Anurag Gupta, DG Anil Palta, ADG RK Mallick, ADG Prashant Singh and ADG Murarilal Meena were present among others.

Sinha is the first SSP of Ranchi after the creation of Jharkhand. He was appointed Ranchi SSP on 25 November 2000. Later he held the position of Commander JAP-1, Hazaribagh SP, Special Branch SP, Hazaribagh Range DIG, STF IG, ADG (Surveillance), ADG (Special Branch) cum Special Secretary Home Department, ADG with OSD Delhi, ADG (Wireless), DG (wireless), DG (JAP), DG (ACB).

Born on 8 January 1962 in Sahibganj, Sinha matriculated in 1976 from St. Xavier's School, Sahibganj, and received the National Science Talent Search Award in 1977. After joining Indian Police Service, he became Piro ASP, Patna ASP, Jehanabad SP, Jamui SP, Samastipur SP, Ara SP, BMP-10 Commandant, Katihar SP, CID SP, Nalanda SP in integrated Bihar.

After he retired, he shared his experience of police service and said it was unique. According to him, the uniform became another skin of the policemen, and the words of the orders issued during the parade constantly echoed in the heart of the policeman. Asked about the success, he said there were many and mentioned the recent event to free Buddha Pahar from Naxal control. He said that during his tenure, the Maoists were confined to a small area of the state. Sinha took over from acting DGP M.V. Rao on 11 February 2021 amid controversy over the appointment of the DGP.

The controversy started after M.V The then DG (Home Guard and Fire Services) Rao was given the additional charge of Director General of State Police on 17 March 2020 after IPS officer Kamal Nayan Choubey was transferred to the New Delhi Police Modernization Division camp. Rao was expected to continue in the post, but it was not possible after the Union Public Service Commission in August 2020 did not accept the Jharkhand government's request sent in July 2020 to prepare a new panel for appointments to the post of DGP.

Citing the rules, the UPSC pointed out loopholes in the dismissal of K.N.Choubey as DGP and termed the action of removing him as a violation of the Supreme Court order. Citing reasons and circumstances, the UPSC asked the state government to comply with the directive of the apex court order and provide its observations on the observations made in the letter. Later, the government also decided not to take the matter to the Supreme Court to avoid disputes over filling the top post of the state police.