Harish Kumar Gupta has taken charge as the full-fledged police chief of Andhra Pradesh, Director General of Police (DGP). Harish Kumar Gupta, a 1992 batch IPS officer, is continuing as the Director General of Vigilance Enforcement Department and is holding additional charge as DGP-in-charge. Harish Kumar has left his mark on the police department
Earlier, Chandrababu Naidu-led state government had sent the list of names and details of officers with the rank of DGP eligible for the selection of the full-fledged DGP to the UPSC. After analyzing them, the UPSC sent the list back for appointment with the names of Anjani Kumar (1990), Madireddy Pratap (1991), and Harish Kumar Gupta.
Out of these three names, the government has selected Harish Kumar Gupta as the full-fledged DGP, as he is already functioning as the incharge DGP. Harish Kumar Gupta will continue in this post for two years from the date of taking charge as DGP, irrespective of the date of retirement. He has been serving as the in-charge DGP for the last four months.
The Election Commission appointed Harish Kumar Gupta as DGP on May 6 last year during the general elections, after transfering incharge DGP Rajendranath Reddy, against whom the then opposition parties complained over his proximity with the former chief minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
Gupta continued in that post until June 19 last year. After the coalition government came to power, it first gave the opportunity to Dwaraka Tirumala Rao as DGP on the basis of seniority. After Dwaraka Tirumala Rao retired in January this year, Harish Kumar Gupta was again given the responsibility of in-charge from February 1.
Harish Kumar Gupta will be the full-fledged DGP from Saturday. After taking charge as the full-fledged DGP at the DGP headquarters in Mangalagiri at 4 pm, the police officials met and congratulated him. Later, he discussed with them the priorities of AP Police and challenges being faced by the force in the state.