Odisha Police / Senior IPS Officer Vinaytosh Mishra Takes Additional Charge as Odisha DGP

Bhubaneswar, Aug 16: Senior IPS officer Vinaytosh Mishra on Sunday took additional charge of Odisha DGP, following the retirement of incumbent Y B Khurania, officials said.

Outgoing DGP Khurania, who retired from service, handed over the reins to Mishra in a brief ceremony at the Police Headquarters in Kataka.

Mishra, a 1993-batch IPS officer currently serving as DGP, CID, Crime Branch, will hold the additional responsibility of heading the state police force until further orders. Officials said the arrangement is temporary, pending the appointment of a full-time successor.

His interim appointment, however, comes amid judicial scrutiny over selection of a regular DGP.

A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court, challenging alleged irregularities in selection of candidates for the DGP post. The Supreme Court has meanwhile directed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) not to finalise the selection of Odisha’s next DGP until August 18, when it will hear a petition challenging the state’s selection process.

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The Odisha government had initially recommended three senior IPS officers for consideration, later expanding the list to 11. Two officers from the 1994 batch, Sanjeeb Kumar Panda and Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa, were recently promoted to the rank of DGP, potentially widening the pool of candidates.

For now, Mishra’s additional charge underscores the state’s effort to ensure seamless policing during a period of transition. His leadership will be closely watched as Odisha navigates law-and-order priorities alongside administrative challenges.