Monday was a busy day for Amulya Kumar Patnaik, a 1985 batch IPS officer of AGMU cadre who has been formally appointed as the new Police Commissioner of Delhi. Patnaik succeeds Alok Kumar Verma who has already been appointed as the new CBI Director.
The order from Ministry of Home Affairs stated "Amulya Kumar Patnaik, IPS (AGMUT: 1985) has been appointed to the post of Commissioner of Police, Delhi, from the date of actual assumption of the charge, in place of Shri Alok Kumar, IPS (AGMUT: 1979) who has been appointed as Director, CBI, till further orders."
Patnaik was Special CP Administration. He would take charge as the top cop on Tuesday after the farewell of Verma at the Parade Ground, Kingsway Camp. This order clearly ended all media speculations that were doing the rounds since the day Verma was appointed the new CBI Director. Patnaik, though a batch junior to his contenders, has been given preference over Deepak Mishra and Dharmendra Kumar, two of the strongest contenders for the top job.
Mishra is now with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as an Additional Director General while Kumar is an Additional DG with the Central Industrial Security Force. Both are 1984 batch IPS officers. It is said that Amulya Patnaik's clean and non-controversial image as a police officer has given him an edge over his seniors for the post.
Originally from Odisha, Patnaik, has handled several critical assignments in Delhi Police and as the joint commissioner he had the rare distinction of heading both the Crime Branch and the Southern Range.
He is known for his adept investigation skills and has been involved in detection of sensitive cases like kidnapping of a school boy in Sarita Vihar by armed gangsters which was solved in a record 12 hours.
Some of the cases that he has handled include the parcel bomb case, the dreaded Asghar gang of dacoits and the Bombay blast accused. He was at the forefront of the police action to quell riots in two mammoth public rallies — anti-Dunkel rally and Uttarakhand in 1994.
In 1995, Patnaik took the initiative to launch 'Pratidhi', a Delhi Police programme to extend counselling and other assistance to victims of traumatic crimes, an initiative that is working successfully till date.
During his stint as the IG of SPG, he is credited with the planning and managing the security of the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003, who had undertaken the lone train journey ever undertaken by a Prime Minister.
He was part of the team which brought about the recently given large-scale promotions in Delhi Police. He has also served as SSP, Law & Order, Puducherry, and DGP in the sensitive north-eastern state of Mizoram. Patnaik is also a recipient of the President's Police Medal for distinguished service and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
"Patnaik has handled Central, East and South districts of the Delhi Police wherein his focus on preventive planning and police-community partnership led to a drastic fall in heinous crimes. His steps in launching Anti-Obscene Call Cell and Anti-Stalking Cell not only prevented crimes against women in Delhi but became a precursor of several such initiatives," said a senior police officer.
As soon as the news of Patnaik taking charge as the new Police Commissioner spread, several senior officers were seen rushing to the Police Headquarters with flower bouquets for formal greetings. Many officers were seen waiting for their turn to meet Patnaik to congratulate him in person.