New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Thursday appointed senior IPS officer Satish Golcha as Delhi Police Commissioner, replacing Shashi Bhushan Kumar Singh who was given additional charge of the force on 31 July.
Golcha, a 1992-batch IPS officer of Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territory cadre, was serving as director general (prisons), Delhi, since May 2024.
He has now been appointed full-time commissioner of Delhi Police, in contrast to Singh, the 1988-batch IPS officer who held charge of the force in addition to his primary posting as D-G (Home Guards).
The sudden move came just a day after Delhi CM Rekha Gupta was attacked at her camp office during a public hearing. As ThePrint reported earlier, the assailant was a Rajkot resident who police suspect took offence to Gupta’s remarks on management of stray dogs.
Gupta in a post on X later in the day said she was “in shock” but was now “feeling better”.
Following the assault, the MHA directed the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to take charge of the CM’s security with immediate effect. Prior to the assault, Gupta was a Z+ security protectee of the Delhi Police.
Golcha’s predecessor Singh succeeded IPS officer Sanjay Arora, who retired earlier this year after a three-year stint as Delhi Police chief. Singh’s retirement was due in January 2026 although the appointment was made until further orders.
Golcha, on the other hand, is scheduled to retire in April 2027.
Delhi Police sources told ThePrint that Golcha was brought in as D-G (Prisons) to rein in inter-gang rivalries, especially inside Tihar jail. Before this, he also served as chief of the Delhi Police Crime Branch and Intelligence Wing. He was also Special Commissioner responsible for law and order in the North Zone at the time of the February 2020 riots.
“He (Golcha) proved his mettle with his hands-on approach, and was the go-to man for Delhi Police at almost all critical junctures. His elevation should serve the force well,” a Delhi Police official told ThePrint on condition of anonymity.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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