In a notable administrative move, the Rajasthan government has relieved the Superintendents of Police (SPs) of Jhunjhunu and Hanumangarh, placing them under Awaiting Posting Orders (APO) status. The Department of Personnel issued the order on Tuesday, affecting Sharad Chaudhary (2011 batch IPS, Jhunjhunu SP) and Arshad Ali (2011 batch IPS, Hanumangarh SP).
As of now, no replacements have been announced for either district.
Both officers were recently promoted to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) rank in January but continued in their SP roles. Their sudden removal has triggered discussions within bureaucratic and political circles, with reports suggesting public grievances and administrative complaints as potential reasons.
What is APO?
An Awaiting Posting Orders (APO) status means an officer has been relieved of their duties but not yet assigned a new post. While technically an administrative holding pattern, it is often perceived as a sign of pending disciplinary review or part of a larger reshuffle.
Background of the Officers
Sharad Chaudhary, originally from Kanpur, has previously held key positions in Bharatpur, Dholpur, Udaipur, and Ajmer. He has also served as ASP in Bhilwara, Sawai Madhopur, Sikar, and Ajmer, and as SP in Barmer and Kota. Before Jhunjhunu, he was DCP in Jodhpur.
Arshad Ali has held posts such as DCP Crime and SP Salumber (Jaipur Range). He was serving as SP Hanumangarh prior to being moved to APO.
More DIGs Still in SP Roles
Chaudhary and Ali were among 10 DIG-rank officers still serving as SPs. With their removal, the number now drops to eight, including:
Anand Sharma
Gaurav Yadav
Bhuvan Bhushan Yadav
Prahlad Singh Krishnaiya
Rajan Dushyant
Shankar Dutt Sharma
Ram Murti Joshi
Alok Srivastava
Notably, Prahlad Singh Krishnaiya, a Rajasthan native from Krishnaiya Ka Bas, has also been promoted to DIG and has served as SP in several districts. His promotion was seen as a “New Year gift” from the state government.
