In a significant development, the Union Home Ministry on Friday appointed senior IPS officer Anurag Kumar, a 1994-batch officer of the AGMUT cadre, as the new Commissioner of Police, Delhi, replacing 1992-batch IPS officer Satish Golchha, according to a government order.
Kumar was earlier serving as the Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Prior to his appointment, he was repatriated to his parent Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“With the approval of the Competent Authority, Anurag Kumar, IPS (AGMUT: 1994), is hereby appointed as Commissioner of Police, Delhi, with effect from the date of assumption of charge and until further orders,” the order stated.
Golchha, a 1992-batch AGMUT cadre IPS officer, has been directed to report to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi for further posting after Kumar assumes charge, the order added.
Golchha was appointed Commissioner of Police on August 22, 2025, a day after Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was attacked during a Jan Sunwai. He had replaced SBK Singh, who was given additional charge of Delhi Police Commissioner following the retirement of Sanjay Arora on July 31 that year.
An engineering graduate, Kumar supersedes three senior officers—Garima Bhatnagar and Rajesh Khurana (both from the 1992 batch) and Robin Hibu (1993 batch)—to become Delhi’s top cop. All three are currently serving as Special Commissioners of Police in Delhi Police and will be assigned new responsibilities in accordance with official norms.
During his two-decade stint in the Intelligence Bureau, Kumar handled several strategic desks, including Kashmir, VIP security and Naxal operations. He has also served at the Indian mission in Washington.
Kumar was awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2010 and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2016.
Officials said he worked in close coordination with other security agencies to dismantle terror networks and weaken terrorism-related infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.
Officials said Kumar’s priorities will include strengthening the city’s security architecture and maintaining law and order in the national capital. Curbing organised crime, tackling the growing threat of cybercrime and enhancing counter-terrorism preparedness are expected to remain at the top of his agenda.
The appointment of a senior intelligence officer as Delhi Police Commissioner reflects the Centre’s focus on strengthening policing, law and order, and internal security in the national capital.
In February 2025, while serving on central deputation in the Intelligence Bureau, Kumar was granted proforma promotion to the Director General of Police (DGP) rank (Level 16) by the Ministry of Home Affairs, one of the highest ranks in the IPS.