In a smooth transition of leadership, senior IPS officer Vinaytosh Mishra assumed charge as the interim Director General of Police (DGP) of Odisha on Sunday afternoon.
Outgoing DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania formally handed over charge at the state police headquarters in Buxi Bazar, Bhubaneswar.
Senior officers welcomed the new interim chief with a Guard of Honour. Mishra then paid floral tributes at the Martyrs’ Memorial within the headquarters premises, paying respect to the fallen heroes of the force.
A 1993-batch Odisha-cadre IPS officer, Mishra has held key positions across districts as Superintendent of Police. He was promoted to Additional Director General in 2020 and later served as Director General of Fire Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence. In 2025, he took over as Director General of the Crime Branch, where he earned recognition for successes in cybercrime and economic offence investigations.
Speaking after taking charge, the interim DGP underlined that the safety and security of Odisha’s citizens would remain the top priority. He specifically flagged women’s safety, a drug-free state, cybercrime, and organised crime as focus areas. With the flood situation still a concern in parts of the state and the festive season approaching, Mishra said the police would intensify statewide operations against criminals.
He will continue as interim DGP until a regular appointment is made and will handle both the Crime Branch and the overall police administration. Mishra is due to retire in November.
Later, the newly appointed interim DGP travelled to Puri. He was welcomed by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration in front of the Srimandir and offered darshan of Lord Jagannath. Puri SP Prateek Singh was present, and security arrangements around the temple were strengthened during the visit.
With a blend of administrative experience and a clear roadmap for public safety, Vinaytosh Mishra begins his short but significant tenure at the helm of Odisha Police.
