The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has finalized a three-member shortlist for the next Director General of Police (DGP), excluding state-favored officers M.R. Ajith Kumar and Manoj Abraham. With current DGP Sheikh Darvesh Sahib set to retire on June 30, the shortlisted contenders are Nitin Agrawal (1989 batch), currently Transport Commissioner; Rawat Chandrashekhar (1991 batch), Special Director with the Intelligence Bureau; and Yogesh Gupta (1993 batch), who heads the Fire Force. The Kerala government had pitched for ADGP Ajith Kumar’s inclusion, citing precedent, but the UPSC stuck to its rule—only officers with DGP rank are eligible. Despite backing from the state’s Chief Secretary and the outgoing DGP, Manoj Abraham was also overlooked. Yogesh Gupta’s inclusion raises political eyebrows, as his past actions against CPM leaders during his tenure as Vigilance Director reportedly displeased the state. Meanwhile, central pressure for Gupta’s deputation clearance has been met with silence from the state. With Agrawal and Chandrashekhar seen as frontrunners and both nearing retirement in 2026, the next DGP is likely to have a limited tenure of about a year.
