In a move aimed at ensuring seamless continuity at the top of Odisha’s police hierarchy, senior IPS officer Vinaytosh Mishra has been given additional charge as Director General of Police (DGP).
Incumbent DGP YB Khurania will superannuate on Sunday, August 16. From that day, Mishra — currently serving as DG of the CID-Crime Branch — will simultaneously hold the dual responsibility of DGP (Head of Police Force) until further orders.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has approved the state government’s proposal for this arrangement. Officials confirmed that Mishra will continue to discharge his present duties as DG, CID-Crime Branch while also leading the entire Odisha Police force.
A 1993-batch Odisha cadre officer, Vinaytosh Mishra brings more than three decades of rich experience in police administration, crime investigation, and law-and-order management. Born on November 3, 1966, in Madhubani district of Bihar, he holds a BSc degree in Engineering and a Master’s degree in Police Management (MDPM).
His career includes significant stints as Director of the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB), where he handled crime data, records and analysis, and later as a senior officer in the CID-Crime Branch overseeing sensitive and high-profile investigations. He has also previously held additional charge as DG of Fire Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence.
The interim appointment comes at a time when the process for selecting a regular DGP remains under judicial scrutiny. The Supreme Court, after hearing a petition related to the selection process, directed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Thursday not to finalise the appointment of the Odisha DGP. The next hearing is scheduled for August 18, and the selection process stands stayed until then.
With this temporary arrangement, the state government has prioritised administrative continuity while the legal process takes its course. Mishra’s extensive experience in crime investigation and police leadership is expected to provide stability during the transition period.
Odisha Police will now operate under the dual leadership of an officer who has spent years strengthening the state’s crime-fighting and intelligence apparatus — a measured step as the force awaits a permanent head.
