A major shake-up has occurred in Jharkhand’s police hierarchy with the resignation of DGP Anurag Gupta. The situation escalated after the state government withdrew the ACB’s authority from him on September 19th, a move tied to the ongoing liquor scam and allegations against IAS officer Vinay Choubey. Choubey, currently imprisoned for a land scam, had previously been arrested in the liquor scam but was granted bail when the ACB failed to file its chargesheet in court within three months. The government, embarrassed by this procedural failure, allegedly blamed DGP Gupta, who was in charge of the ACB at the time. This incident sparked public criticism and internal dissatisfaction among IAS officers. The resignation is seen as a consequence of Gupta’s alleged defiance of government directives. It’s a dramatic turn for an officer who previously enjoyed strong backing, including rule amendments and a service extension, indicating a significant falling out. Rumors point to Gupta’s alleged misconduct, including arbitrary actions and potential corruption, as the underlying reasons for his ouster. The arrest of businessman Vinay Singh, an accused in the Hazaribagh land scam along with Choubey, and his high-level connections are also considered a significant factor. In a notable appointment, the state has named T. Mishra as the interim DGP, breaking barriers as the first woman to hold the top police post in Jharkhand.
