By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The UPSC empanelment committee meeting for selecting Odisha’s next DGP held in New Delhi which was attended by State Chief Secretary and sitting DGP on Friday. The empanelment committee also included the UPSC Chairman (or member), Union Home Secretary (or nominee), a head of a central police organisation (not from Odisha cadre).
Highly places sources said, the State Government cited an old Vigilance case against Susanta Kumar Nath , 1993 batch, DG Prisons, to cut his name from top 3 list, to which UPSC panel sought documentary evidence . The State Government sought time to submit the detail Vigilance case against Nath, as a result of which UPSC differed the decision to recommend 3 names of the 11 submitted by the State Government for next Odisha DGP to be chosen among them.
The UPSC prepares a panel of three based on seniority, service records, merit, and experience. The state has discretion to appoint one. As per UPSC, Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi is most eligible for the next DGP . The State Government’s decision to cite Vigilance against Sushant Nath, seems intended to elevate 1994 batch Sanjib Panda into top 3 along with 1990 batch Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi, DG Fire Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence and Director Intelligence RP Koche , and finally will make Panda as next DGP. Even BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar was used to file FIR against Sushant Nath to clear road for Sanjib Panda.
If this happens, it will be like a DSP becomes DIG before his SP while uniform service is about discipline, seniority, honesty and committed, unless there are serious charges.
Panda , a known VK Pandian group IPS Officer , covered up chit fund probe cases, how become blue eyed boy for Odisha CMO , now it’s a billion dollar question. Now a days, Sanjib Panda become close aide of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s Chief Advisor Prakash Mishra.
When Panda joined as ADGP (Operations), Maoists related violence had come down drastically in the State but a fake narrative was created as if he is like Veteran IPS Officer K Vijay Kumar, who had advised Ministry of Home Affairs on Left Wing Insurgency. Anti-Maoists Operations in Chhattisgarh, undivided Andhra Pradesh , Jharkhand compelled Maoists to shun violence and forced them to choose Odisha forest as safe heaven to surrender later before they get killed by security forces. Maoists’ related violence came down much before Sanjib Panda took the charge as ADGP.
Speculation in bureaucratic circles often highlights Sanjib Panda as strong possibilities, but the final shortlist depends on the UPSC committee’s assessment. But people of Odisha wants 1990 Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi like Officer to lead Odisha Police.
After the State Government submit detailed against Sushant Nath, committee will shortlist three senior IPS officers including Sanjib Panda from a pool of 11 eligible candidates forwarded by the Odisha government in May.
The state government will then select one from this panel as the next Director General of Police (DGP). Sources said, RP Koche will not be eligible for his Maharastra background since Government playing Odia Ashmita card fearing RSS , now Sarangi and Panda remain two Odia IPS Officers in the race . While the Government is planning to appoint Panda as next DGP .
Retirement of incumbent DGP Y.B. Khurania 1990 batch is on August 16, 2026 after a two-year tenure.
DGP-rank officers (stronger contenders):
Sudhanshu Sarangi (1990 batch) — Senior-most; often mentioned as a frontrunner.
Susanta Kumar Nath (1993 batch), DG Prisons
R.P. Koche (1993 batch) — Director, Intelligence.
Other ADGP-rank officers (1994–1996 batches):
Sanjeeb Panda, Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa (1994).
Ritu Arora, Saumendra Priyadarshi, Santosh Bala, P.S. Ranpise (1995).
Arun Bothra, Sunita Kakran (1996).
Vinaytosh Mishra (another DGP-rank officer) is excluded due to insufficient residual service (retires November 2026).
