Vinaytosh Mishra appointed interim Odisha DGP

Vinaytosh Mishra, a 1993-batch IPS officer and current Director General of Police for the Crime Branch, has been granted additional charge of the Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) position. The appointment, approved by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, takes effect on August 16 following the retirement of the incumbent, Y B Khurania.

Mishra will hold this interim responsibility until further orders to ensure continuity in police leadership. Upon his appointment, Mishra noted that cybercrime and narcotics remain significant challenges for the Odisha Police.

The interim measure follows a Supreme Court directive instructing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) not to finalize the selection panel for the permanent DGP post until at least August 18. This judicial intervention comes in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging irregularities in the selection process and potential violations of previous court judgments regarding candidate eligibility.