The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has formally approved the appointment of Shalabh Mathur, a 2006-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, as Inspector General (IG) in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on central deputation. His posting has been cleared against an existing vacancy in the force and will be governed by standard central deputation norms.
The competent authority has ordered that Mr Mathur be relieved immediately from his present assignment in Uttar Pradesh, enabling him to assume charge of his new central responsibility without delay.
Who Is Shalabh Mathur?
Shalabh Mathur is a senior IPS officer of the 2006 batch belonging to the Uttar Pradesh cadre. A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, he holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electronics and Communication. Born on December 28, 1980, Mathur has built a reputation as a disciplined and performance-driven police leader, with a career spanning key field postings and sensitive administrative roles within the UP Police.
Current and Key Past Postings
Prior to his central deputation, Mathur was serving as Inspector General of Police (Administration/Personnel) at the DGP Headquarters in Lucknow — a critical role responsible for personnel policy, service discipline and internal administrative oversight of the state police force.
Earlier, he headed the Aligarh Range as IG, supervising law-and-order management and operational policing across multiple districts. He has also served as Deputy Inspector General of Police, Moradabad Range, where he handled a high-pressure policing environment, as well as DIG of the Special Enquiry Wing in Lucknow, overseeing specialised investigations.
His district-level experience includes key tenures as Senior Superintendent of Police in major districts such as Gorakhpur, Mathura and Agra.
Empanelment and Central Deputation
Mathur was empanelled to the rank of Inspector General in the Government of India in May 2025, which made him eligible for central deputation. He subsequently received a No Objection Certificate from the Chief Minister’s Office in January 2026, paving the way for his induction into the CRPF.
He is one among six Uttar Pradesh cadre IPS officers cleared for central deputation by the Union Home Ministry in 2025. The list also includes senior officers Ajay Kumar Mishra (2003 batch), Nitin Tiwari, Amit Pathak, Deepika Tiwari and Pratibha Ambedkar.
Professional Reputation and Achievements
Within the police establishment, Shalabh Mathur is widely recognised for:
• Strong command over personnel administration and establishment matters
• Firm yet balanced law-and-order leadership
• Institutional discipline and ethical policing standards
• Efficient handling of sensitive administrative portfolios
His work at the DGP headquarters, particularly in establishment and personnel management, has been noted for strengthening internal governance systems.
Context: Recent Promotions in UP Police
Earlier in January 2026, Director General of Police Rajiv Krishna conferred rank insignia on several newly promoted officers. Promotions included:
– Tarun Gaba and Praveen Kumar — promoted from IG to Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)
– Kiran S., Anand Suresh Rao Kulkarni, Amit Verma, Rajiv Malhotra, Dr Akhilesh Kumar Nigam and Hemraj Meena — promoted from DIG to IG
– Santosh Kumar Mishra — promoted from SSP to DIG
Addressing officers during the ceremony, DGP Rajiv Krishna emphasised discipline, public trust and modern strategic policing, highlighting the need for adaptability in an increasingly complex criminal environment.
