Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, September 23
Bihar’s Director General of Police Gupteshwar Pandey had taken voluntary retirement a few months before he was to superannuate.
The 1987 batch IPS officer came to the limelight in the last two months following his comments against a section of Maharashtra politicians and Mumbai police over Sushant Singh Rajput suicide.
He announced he was entering active public life. “Abhi Nitish ji se baat nahi hui hai,” was his response when asked whether he was joining politics. Notably, till last evening he used to address Nitish Kumar as “Mananiya mukhyamantriji”.
Pandey had criticised Rhea Chakarvarty for her reported comments on the chief minister’s decision to hand over the SSR case to CBI for political reasons. He commented Rhea had no Aukat (stature) to challenge Nitish Kumar. Today, Pandey said she was a named accused in a murder case.
The then DGP had sent a team of four police officers to Mumbai in July to investigate the case. Later, he had criticised action of Mumbai police for detaining SP rank officer in Mumbai.
The former top Cop said Nitish Kumar was a very efficient chief minister who never interfered in the working of the police. He is tough on policing and administration, said the new entrant to politics as he wrapped a saffron gamcha (towel) on his shoulder.
State government appointed the director general of Home Guards and 1988-batch IPS officer G K Singhal as successor to Pandey. Singhal joined immediately. The Home department of the state government had published the decision to accept resignation of Pandey and appointment of his successor on its website late last night. But, it was removed on Wednesday morning. Notification said the three months statutory advance notice for VRS was waived in case of Pandey.
Gupteshwar Pandey today claimed thousands of people have approached him to contest the elections. They approached from all parts of the state, even Balmikinagar where a by-election to Lok Sabha is scheduled.
In 2009 too he resigned as IG of police to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Buxar. However, BJP refused to oblige him and nominated the sitting MP Lalmuni Chaubey. Later, Pandey had to withdraw his papers.
The outgoing DG police today claimed he was very popular among the dalits too as he had taken care of them as SPs in several districts. He claimed he was the trouble shooter even in the places where communal riots took place. He had controlled communal riots at Motihari and Sitamarhi within six hours of his landing in the two places.
He is the second IPS to enter politics to contest the November elections. Last week Sunil Kumar, batch mate of Pandey and chairman of Police Housing Corporation resigned and joined JDU to contest elections from Bhorey constituency.
