Is IG Kiran S? 2008-Batch IPS Officer Leading SIT Probe into Rahul Gandhi Convoy Accident
Uttar Pradesh Police Inspector General Kiran S, a 2008-batch IPS officer who previously served with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is leading a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to investigate the collision involving vehicles travelling behind Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s convoy on the Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur district.
The SIT was formed on the directions of Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna following the incident on October 26, when Gandhi was travelling from Lucknow to Sultanpur to appear before a special MP/MLA court in a criminal defamation case. The inquiry will examine the circumstances leading to the collision, the movement of vehicles accompanying the convoy, and any possible lapses in security arrangements or traffic management.
Kiran S, who currently heads the Lucknow Range, will lead the investigation with the assistance of Sultanpur Additional Superintendent of Police Brij Narayan Singh and Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Ram Krishna Chaturvedi. The team has been tasked with establishing the sequence of events, identifying any shortcomings and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents.
The appointment has brought the officer’s career and professional background into focus, particularly his years with the CBI and his receipt of the Interpol Medal of Excellence in November 2025.
Who Is IPS Officer Kiran S?
Kiran S is a 2008-batch Indian Police Service officer belonging to the Uttar Pradesh cadre. According to his official Uttar Pradesh Police profile, he was born on September 20, 1982, and his hometown is listed as Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. His father’s name is recorded as Dr P. J. Sivakumar.
An engineering graduate with an M.Tech degree in Electronics, Kiran entered the IPS through direct recruitment after clearing the Union Public Service Commission’s Civil Services Examination.
He currently serves as Inspector General of Police, Lucknow Range, having assumed charge on January 7, 2026, following his return to his parent cadre after an extended period on central deputation.
His professional career has included assignments in both state policing and a central investigative agency. During his tenure with the CBI, he served as Superintendent of Police before progressing to the rank of Deputy Inspector General. His subsequent promotion to Inspector General and posting to Lucknow Range placed him in a senior leadership position within the Uttar Pradesh Police. The assignment to head the SIT investigating the convoy collision adds another significant responsibility to his current role.
Long Tenure with the Central Bureau of Investigation
One of the major phases of Kiran S’s career was his tenure with the Central Bureau of Investigation, which began in June 2016. During his central deputation, he served in the CBI as Superintendent of Police and subsequently rose to the rank of Deputy Inspector General. His deputation continued until late 2025, with extensions during the period.
Service in a central investigative agency provides exposure to cases requiring detailed evidence collection, examination of competing accounts and coordination across jurisdictions. Kiran’s CBI experience forms an important part of his professional background as he takes charge of the present SIT inquiry.
After completing his central deputation, he returned to Uttar Pradesh in January 2026. He was promoted to Inspector General of Police and posted as IG, Lucknow Range, on January 7.
His current assignment involves examining a different set of operational questions, including vehicle movement, escort arrangements, traffic coordination and the circumstances surrounding a collision during a high-profile political visit. The SIT’s findings will determine whether any negligence or procedural shortcomings occurred.
Kiran S Received Interpol Medal of Excellence in 2025
Kiran S received the Interpol Medal of Excellence on November 27, 2025, according to his official Uttar Pradesh Police profile. The recognition is a notable distinction in his service record and is associated with his work in international police cooperation and investigations.
His official profile also records the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service, along with other service recognitions.
His career progression reflects successive promotions through the IPS hierarchy. He entered the Senior Scale in January 2012, received Selection Grade in January 2021, was promoted to DIG in January 2022 and attained the rank of IG in January 2026.
These milestones trace his progression from the early years of his police service to senior leadership responsibilities. His experience across state policing and central investigation assignments is now relevant to his role in supervising the inquiry into the Purvanchal Expressway collision.
Why Has Kiran S Been Appointed to Lead the SIT?
The Uttar Pradesh Police constituted the three-member SIT after vehicles travelling behind Rahul Gandhi’s convoy collided on the Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur district on October 26.
Gandhi was travelling from Lucknow to Sultanpur to appear before a special MP/MLA court in connection with a criminal defamation complaint. During the journey, a collision occurred near the Haliyapur area involving vehicles behind his convoy.
According to police accounts cited in media reports, a private vehicle associated with local Congress leaders braked suddenly, resulting in a collision among vehicles following it. The precise circumstances surrounding the braking and the sequence of events remain subject to investigation.
The SIT has been directed to establish what happened and examine whether any negligence or lapses occurred in security, escort arrangements or traffic management. Its work will include assessing how the vehicles were moving, how the collision developed and whether the arrangements in place were adequate for the journey.
The team will also identify preventive measures, if required, and submit its findings to Police Headquarters at the earliest. The constitution of the SIT does not, by itself, establish that a security lapse occurred. The investigation is intended to determine the facts and identify any shortcomings supported by the evidence.
Three-Member SIT to Investigate the Collision
The team comprises three Uttar Pradesh Police officers with responsibilities spanning senior police supervision, district-level policing and traffic management. Kiran S, Inspector General of Police, Lucknow Range, is heading the SIT. He will be assisted by Brij Narayan Singh, Additional Superintendent of Police, Sultanpur, and Ram Krishna Chaturvedi, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Sultanpur.
The composition brings together officers from the state’s senior police leadership and the district where the incident occurred. The investigation will focus on the movement of vehicles behind Gandhi’s convoy, the circumstances of the collision and the adequacy of the security and traffic arrangements.
The team is expected to reconstruct the sequence of events and examine the relevant operational arrangements. Its findings should help establish whether the incident resulted from an isolated driving-related event or involved any identifiable shortcomings in convoy coordination or traffic management. Any conclusions regarding responsibility or negligence will depend on the evidence collected during the inquiry.
What Happened on the Purvanchal Expressway?
Rahul Gandhi arrived at Lucknow airport on the morning of October 26 before beginning his road journey to Sultanpur for a scheduled court appearance. During the journey, vehicles travelling behind his convoy collided on the Purvanchal Expressway near Haliyapur in Sultanpur district. Reports differed over the number of vehicles involved and the extent of injuries. Police accounts described the collision as minor, while some media reports referred to people sustaining minor injuries.
Gandhi was reported to be safe, and his own vehicle was not involved in the collision. His convoy subsequently continued towards Sultanpur, where he appeared before the court for the scheduled hearing.
The incident prompted the Uttar Pradesh Police leadership to order a formal investigation. The SIT will examine the sequence of events, including the reported sudden braking, the movement of the vehicles following the convoy and the circumstances in which the collision occurred.
The inquiry will also assess whether the arrangements for managing traffic and escorting vehicles were adequate. Its findings are expected to provide a clearer account of the incident and identify any measures considered necessary to reduce the risk of similar occurrences.
Rahul Gandhi Acquitted in Sultanpur Defamation Case
The collision occurred on the same day that a special MP/MLA court in Sultanpur acquitted Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case linked to remarks he allegedly made about then BJP president Amit Shah during the 2018 Karnataka Assembly election campaign.
The complaint was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra on August 4, 2018. It concerned remarks Gandhi made at a press conference in Bengaluru in May 2018, referring to Shah as an accused in a murder case. The court ruled in Gandhi’s favour on October 26, 2026. Congress supporters gathered outside the court and celebrated the verdict.
Gandhi’s scheduled appearance in the case was the reason for his visit to Sultanpur on the day of the expressway collision. The two developments occurred on the same day, although the SIT’s remit is to investigate the circumstances of the road accident rather than the defamation proceedings.
What Happens Next in the SIT Probe?
As head of the SIT, Kiran S will supervise the inquiry and coordinate the work of the two other officers. The investigation will seek to establish how the vehicles were moving, what triggered the reported sudden braking and how the subsequent collision occurred.
The team will also examine whether the convoy’s escort arrangements and traffic management measures were adequate under the circumstances. Any operational or administrative shortcomings identified during the inquiry may form the basis of recommendations to the Uttar Pradesh Police leadership. The SIT has been directed to submit a detailed report to Police Headquarters at the earliest and recommend steps to prevent similar incidents.
The investigation’s findings will be important in determining whether the collision was an isolated incident or whether changes to convoy coordination, traffic management or security procedures are warranted.
For Kiran S, the assignment follows a lengthy stint with the CBI, recognition through the Interpol Medal of Excellence and his return to a senior position in the Uttar Pradesh Police. His leadership of the inquiry places him at the centre of the state police response to an incident involving vehicles travelling behind a prominent political leader’s convoy. The final conclusions, however, will depend on the evidence gathered by the SIT and the findings set out in its report.
