NEW DELHI: The 1988-batch Tamil Nadu cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sanjay Arora took charge of Delhi Police Commissioner on Monday.
Before joining Delhi Police, Arora was serving as Director-General of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
“Today, I have taken charge of CP, Delhi. The history of this force is full of public welfare and sacrifices. I wish to continue with this and bring a new chapter in policing,” Arora said after his joining.
At around 11 am he reached Delhi Police Headquarters, after taking a farewell from his previous force, ITBP. He was welcomed by the senior officers at the headquarters.
On Sunday, the incumbent Rakesh Asthana was relieved from the charge of CP following his retirement.
Orders for Arora’s appointment were issued on Sunday by the competent authority after the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by the Prime Minister approved the inter-cadre transfer of Arora.
Incidentally, he is the 2nd IPS officer in succession to have been given the reins of Delhi Police despite not belonging to the parent Arunachal, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre. Asthana was from the Gujarat cadre.
Arora is a graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Malviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur (Rajasthan).
After joining the IPS, he served in various capacities in Tamil Nadu Police. He was awarded CM’s Gallantry Medal for Bravery and Heroic Action for his significant success against the dreaded sandalwood smuggler Veerappan during his stint as a Superintendent of Police (SP), Special Task Force.
After being trained by the elite National Security Guards (NSG), Arora, in 1991, played a pivotal role in the forming of the Special Security Group (SSG) to provide security to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu during the heydays of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). He also served as the Superintendent of Police of various districts of Tamil Nadu.