Bhubaneswar: Until a few weeks ago, Dayal Gangwar was among the most powerful police officers in Odisha.

A 1998-batch IPS officer, Gangwar had spent nearly three decades climbing the ranks of the police hierarchy, serving both in Odisha and at the Centre, earning police medals and handling some of the state's most critical portfolios.

But on Thursday, his career suffered its biggest setback yet when Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered his suspension in connection with the controversy surrounding the death of GRP constable Soumya Ranjan Swain.

The decision comes after an inquiry into allegations made by the constable's family, who accused Gangwar of abusing his position and subjecting the junior policeman to severe mental pressure.

What makes the development particularly striking is that apparently warning signs of turbulence around the officer's career had arguably begun appearing much earlier.

A Career Built on High-Profile Assignments

Originally from Uttar Pradesh but allotted to the Odisha cadre, Gangwar joined the IPS on December 28, 1998. Over the years, he held a series of district policing and leadership assignments before moving on central deputation to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Between 2020 and 2023, he served as Inspector General in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), overseeing the DAE and DOS Sector. The posting placed him among a select group of senior officers entrusted with managing critical security infrastructure.

Upon returning to Odisha in 2023, he was promoted to the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), a stage at which officers typically settle into long-term leadership roles.

Instead, Gangwar's career took an unusually restless turn.

The Transfer Trail

Within less than three years, Gangwar was shifted across multiple top-level assignments in rapid succession.

After returning from central deputation, he promoted and posted as ADGP Railways and Coastal Security in 2023 but transferred to ADGP Police HQ in 2024.

Interestingly, in 2024, he was again posted as ADGP Railways and Coastal Security. But sooner in 2025, transferred back to ADGP Police HQs.

Again In 2025, he was again transferred and posted ADGP Communications. Each of these positions carries significant administrative responsibilities and is normally associated with institutional continuity.

The frequency of these transfers drew attention within bureaucratic and policing circles, particularly because officers of ADGP rank are generally expected to spend longer tenures in specialised portfolios.

While no official explanation linked the transfers to disciplinary concerns, the repeated movements raised eyebrows in sections of the police establishment. In hindsight, that period is now being viewed through a very different lens following the events that unfolded in 2026.

The Case That Changed Everything

The turning point came after the death of 32-year-old GRP constable Soumya Ranjan Swain on May 7, 2026, following a mob attack in Balianta.

Soon after the incident, Swain's family levelled serious allegations against Gangwar. They claimed the constable had been compelled to perform personal work unrelated to policing and had been subjected to sustained workplace pressure.

The allegations triggered public outrage and political scrutiny.

As pressure mounted, the state government removed Gangwar from his position as ADGP Communications and posted him as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Home Department, a move widely seen as an administrative sidelining pending inquiry.

Crime Branch Steps In

The controversy escalated further when the Odisha Crime Branch expanded its investigation to formally examine the allegations against the senior IPS officer.

ADG Arun Bothra was tasked with supervising the probe into the claims of abuse of authority and workplace harassment.

Investigators visited Swain's native village, met his family members, and seized the deceased constable's handwritten diary as part of efforts to verify the allegations. The inquiry focused on whether there was evidence of mental harassment or misuse of official position.

The findings of the inquiry are understood to have played a role in the government's decision to suspend Gangwar.

From Decorated Officer to Officer Under Investigation

Gangwar's career has long been associated with police modernisation, communications infrastructure and administrative management. He was awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and was considered an officer capable of handling complex organisational responsibilities.

Yet the allegations emerging from the Soumya Swain case have fundamentally altered the narrative surrounding his career.

For supporters, he remains a senior officer whose record should be judged only after investigations are completed. For critics, the suspension marks a significant step towards accountability in a case that has shaken Odisha's police establishment.

As Crime Branch investigations continue, Dayal Gangwar now finds himself at a crossroads where nearly 28 years of service are being weighed against allegations that have triggered one of the most consequential controversies in Odisha Police in recent memory.

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