Odisha gives additional charge of DGP to Crime Branch chief Vinaytosh Mishra
By Nalini Sahu
Bhubaneswar, Aug. 14: The Odisha government on Friday assigned the additional charge of Director General of Police (DGP) to Crime Branch chief Vinaytosh Mishra, ensuring continuity at the top of the state police force after incumbent Y.B. Khurania retires on August 16.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved the proposal to entrust Mishra with the additional responsibility on Friday. The arrangement will take effect from August 16, when Khurania completes his tenure.
Mishra, a 1993-batch IPS officer, is currently serving as Director General of Police, CID-Crime Branch. He was promoted to the DGP grade in January 2025. The Odisha Police’s current civil list also places him among the state’s DGP-rank officers.
The government’s decision comes amid uncertainty over the appointment of a full-time successor to Khurania, whose two-year tenure as Odisha DGP ends on August 16.
Khurania, a 1990-batch IPS officer, took charge as the state police chief on August 16, 2024, and his service was extended until August 16, 2026, to enable him to complete the stipulated two-year tenure. He had earlier served as Special Director General of the Border Security Force before returning to his parent cadre.
Khurania met Chief Minister Majhi at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar earlier on Friday, two days before his retirement. Chief Secretary Anu Garg and senior officials of the Chief Minister’s Office were also present at the meeting.
The leadership transition has been complicated by a legal challenge to the process for selecting the next regular DGP. The Supreme Court has directed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to defer the process of finalising the panel for Odisha’s next police chief until August 18, when the matter is scheduled to come up for hearing.
The state had earlier initiated the process for identifying eligible officers for the post. A panel of three DGP-rank officers was forwarded to the state government in April for consideration as potential successors to Khurania.
The Supreme Court’s intervention has effectively prevented the government from immediately putting in place a regular DGP, necessitating an interim arrangement after Khurania’s retirement.
Mishra’s appointment provides the government with a senior officer to head the police force while the legal proceedings and the formal selection process continue.
The 1993-batch officer has held several important assignments in the Odisha Police. He was appointed ADGP, CID-Crime Branch, in September 2024 and was subsequently elevated to the DGP grade.
The temporary arrangement assumes significance as the DGP, as the Head of Police Force, oversees law and order, crime control, investigations and major policing operations across the state.
The Supreme Court hearing on August 18 is now likely to be crucial in determining the next steps for the appointment of a full-time Odisha DGP. Until then, Mishra is expected to oversee the state police administration in an acting capacity.
The government has not indicated how long the additional-charge arrangement will continue or whether a regular DGP will be appointed immediately after the court proceedings.
