Bihar DGP takes voluntary retirement, triggers speculation of contesting Assembly polls

Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan on Tuesday approved the request of State Director General of Police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandey, seeking voluntary retirement (VRS) from services. Sanjiv Kumar Singhal, DG Civil Defence and Fire Services has been given the additional charge of DGP Bihar till further orders. Pandey is likely to contest as a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

Patna: Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandey on Tuesday took voluntary retirement from service, triggering speculations that the outspoken officer would contest the coming state Assembly polls.

Pandey's request seeking voluntary retirement was approved by Governor Phagu Chauhan, a notification issued by the state home department said.

Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandey voluntary retirement approved by Governor Phagu Chauhan

Hours after his voluntary retirement was approved by Governor, the officer took to Twitter and said that he would be live through his social media accounts on Wednesday at 6pm. It is specaluted that he would address about his VRS in the live session.

Director General (Homeguards) SK Singhal has been given additional charge of DGP, ADG (Headquarters) Jitendra Kumar told a news agency.

Director General (Homeguards) SK Singhal has been given additional charge of DGP

Pandey, a 1987 batch IPS officer, was involved in the investigation of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death by suicide in Mumbai.

He had recently been in the headlines for his stout defence of the Nitish Kumar administration when it was under attack from the Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra over Bihar Police's probe into the death of Rajput. In relation to Rajput death case, Pandey had alleged that Mumbai Police was not fair in investigating the late actor's death.

An FIR was registered in Patna based on the complaint of Rajput's father KK Singh against Chakraborty and others in several sections including abetment to suicide.

Later, the matter reached the Supreme Court which asked the CBI to investigate the case related to the actor's death, while holding that the FIR registered in Patna was legitimate.

Bihar Assembly election is likely to be held in October-November.

Pandey had taken premature retirement to contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2009, but later the state government did not accept his VRS application and reinstated him in the service.

(With inputs from agencies)