Bengaluru: In a move that has sparked significant opposition from senior police officials, the Karnataka Home Department is reportedly considering appointing Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Arun Chakravarthy as the new head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Sources reveal that this decision has raised concerns among bureaucrats and law enforcement experts over the violation of seniority protocols.Seniority Ignored: DGP-Rank Officers Overlooked
Two senior-most Director General of Police (DGP) rank officers — Prashanth Kumar Thakur and Dr Pronab Mohanty — were expected to be contenders for the CID chief post. Dr Mohanty, a 1994 batch IPS officer, is currently heading the Cybercrime wing of the CID and operates from the CID headquarters. Arun Chakravarthy, however, is a 1995 batch officer and thus junior to both.
An expert familiar with IPS appointment norms criticized the move, stating,
“Dr Mohanty is already heading the CID Cybercrime wing and operates from the headquarters itself. Appointing a junior officer above him violates bureaucratic hierarchy and established guidelines.”
Upcoming Retirement Won’t Impact Promotion Possibilities
While Malini Krishnamurthy, DGP of the Karnataka Prisons Department, is set to retire on July 31, her departure will not create a vacancy that would justify Arun Chakravarthy’s elevation to DGP rank. Therefore, officials argue, he remains ineligible for the CID chief position based on seniority and rank.
Current Line-Up of Karnataka DGPs
The state currently has five DGP-rank officers:
• Dr MA Saleem – DG & IGP of Karnataka; currently holds concurrent charge of CID.
• Prashanth Kumar Thakur – Senior-most DGP in service.
• Malini Krishnamurthy – DGP, Karnataka Prisons (Retiring July 31).
• Dr Ramachandra Rao – On compulsory leave following his indirect involvement in a gold smuggling scandal linked to actor Ms Ranya Rao.
• Dr Pronab Mohanty – DGP in charge of multiple departments including Internal Security Division, CID Cybercrime, and the Anti-Narcotics Bureau.
Stalled Promotions Add to the Complexity
Former DG and IGP Alok Mohan’s retirement left a potential vacancy for promotion. However, Alok Kumar, the officer expected to move up, has a pending Departmental Enquiry in connection with a phone tapping scandal. Despite being cleared in one case involving former Bengaluru Commissioner Bhaskar Rao, a separate CBI report alleges his involvement in unauthorized surveillance of politicians, bureaucrats, and other influential individuals. As a result, his promotion has been withheld.
Suspended officer B Dayananda, also of the 1994 IPS batch and senior to Chakravarthy, remains out of contention due to disciplinary action following the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede incident.
No Legal Basis for Appointment, Say Officials
Given the seniority and current postings of Dr Mohanty and others, officials argue that appointing ADGP Arun Chakravarthy as CID head lacks both legal and procedural merit.
“With Dr Mohanty stationed at the CID headquarters and holding a DGP rank, it would be a bureaucratic anomaly to install a junior officer as the department head,” said a senior official.
The final decision now lies with the Home Department, which is under pressure to uphold the established hierarchy and avoid what experts are calling a potential “bureaucratic blunder.” Ends.
By: Sharath Sharma Kalagaru
