Asthana takes charge as Delhi police commissioner
ACCORDING TO a ministry of home affairs (MHA) order issued on July 27, Asthana, currently serving as director general of the Border Security Force (BSF), will join as the Delhi Police commissioner with immediate effect. His appointment came just days before his superannuation on July 31.
Rakesh Asthana, a senior IPS officer of Gujarat cadre, took charge as the commissioner of Delhi Police on Wednesday. He was accorded the ceremonial guard of honour by the police force upon his arrival at the Delhi Police Headquarters in the national capital.
Talking to reporters, Asthana said that he believes in the basic concepts of policing, that is, maintenance of law and order and prevention of crime.
“If these things are done properly, peace prevails in the society. There are certain specialised problems, for which there are separate SOPs. We will work accordingly,” said Asthana.
Newly appointed CP also praised the city police for its past performances and said that he hopes to work in tandem with everyone to ensure the betterment of society.
“Delhi Police has a brilliant past. Lot of good work has been done by the force in the past. Lot of complicated cases have been solved. Lot of complicated situations have been handled by the Delhi Police. I believe in team work and I hope with this team work, we will be able to put the best foot forward for the betterment of society and prevalence of peace,” said Asthana.
According to a ministry of home affairs (MHA) order issued on July 27, Asthana, currently serving as director general of the Border Security Force (BSF), will join as the Delhi Police commissioner with immediate effect. His appointment came just days before his superannuation on July 31. He will have a tenure of one year.
Earlier, on June 30, Balaji Shrivastava, the IPS 1988 batch was appointed as the acting Delhi Police commissioner after incumbent S.N. Shrivastava retired.
Asthana, had served as the special director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). During his stint in the CBI, he was engaged in an unsavoury spat with the then CBI director Alok Verma.
This is one of the very few instances when an IPS officer outside of the AGMUT cadre has been appointed as the Delhi Police chief. Usually, an officer belonging to the Arunachal Pradesh-GoaMizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre is appointed to the post.