Punjab Government has appointed Gaurav Yadav, a 1992 batch IPS officer, as officiating Police Chief of the state. Gaurav Yadav had so far been working as Principal Secretary to the Punjab CM ‘s office and acted as the main advisor on policing , intelligence and Law & Order to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Gaurav Yadav originally belongs to Uttar Pradesh and he is son in law of former DGP P C Dogra . Interestingly , IPS Gaurav Yadav was a civil services batchmate of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. AAP came into power in Punjab last year. It is said that Yadav has been picked up for the DGP role by Arvind Kejriwal.
IPS Gaurav Yadav took charge as the officiating director general of police (DGP) after current police chief VK Bhawra proceeded on two months leave on Tuesday. According to an order issued on Monday , Gaurav yadav has been given additional charge of the DGP in addition to his duties during the leave period of Mr. Bhawra.
IPS Gaurav Yadav is a counter intelligence expert and has also served as chief of intelligence in Punjab during the Akali – BJP government in Punjab .
IPS Gaurav Yadav’s appointment came amid different political rival parties attacking Bhagwant Mann led AAP government over the so-called deteriorating Law & Order in the state. The defeat of AAP in recently held Sangrur parliamentary seat byelection also attributed to the law and order situation and the murder of famous punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.
IPS V K Bhawra was appointed the DGP of Punjab in January 2022 just before the model code of conduct came into force for the state assembly elections.The previous Charanjit Singh Channi led congress government had selected V K Bhawra out of a panel of three officers shortlisted by Union Public Service Commission.
Meanwhile , after taking the charge as DGP , Gaurav Yadav spells out the priorities of controlling gangsters, addressing the drug problem , while ensuring law and order with a friendly police image.
