West Bengal Orders Major Police Reshuffle: 40 Officers Transferred, Including 21 IPS; SP Soumyadip Bhattacharya Moved Amid Escalating Political Accusations
In one of the most sweeping police reorganisations of the year, the West Bengal government has transferred 40 police officers across various districts and commissionerates. The reshuffle includes 21 IPS officers — 14 of whom hold Superintendent of Police (SP) rank and five serving in Additional SP or SDPO capacities — along with 19 officers from the West Bengal Police Service (WBPS). The Home and Hill Affairs Department announced that all new postings will take effect immediately.
This large-scale administrative overhaul comes at a time of heightened political friction, following accusations by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who recently wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner alleging that several IPS officers were operating with bias in favour of the ruling Trinamool Congress.
Transfer of SP Soumyadip Bhattacharya Draws Political Attention
One of the most notable developments in the reshuffle is the transfer of Soumyadip Bhattacharya, the Superintendent of Police of Purba Medinipur. Adhikari had specifically named Bhattacharya in his letter to the Election Commission, claiming the officer acted under political influence. Bhattacharya has now been reassigned as SP of Bankura, while the crucial SP post in Purba Medinipur has been left unfilled, intensifying speculation in political circles.
Key IPS-Level Movements
DIG and SP Appointments
Arijit Sinha, SP Jhargram (DIG rank), has been promoted to DIG, Midnapore Range.
Manav Singla, Deputy Commissioner of New Town, has been posted as SP, Jhargram.
Sachin, Senior Superintendent in the Intelligence Branch, has been appointed DC, New Town under the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate.
Avijit Banerjee, SP Purulia, has been transferred to SP, Malda.
Vaibhav Tiwari, SP Bankura, will now serve as SP, Purulia.
Soumyadip Bhattacharya, SP Purba Medinipur, has been moved to SP, Bankura.
Pradeep Kumar Yadav, SP Malda, has been shifted to SP, Traffic, Uttar Dinajpur.
Restructuring in North Bengal
Y. Raghuvamshi, SP Alipurduar, has been appointed SP, Jalpaiguri.
Khandabahale Umesh Ganpat, SP Jalpaiguri, will take over as SP, Alipurduar.
Intelligence Branch & Commissionerate Appointments
Dhritiman Sarkar, SP Paschim Medinipur, has been reassigned as Senior Superintendent, State Intelligence Branch (IB).
Md. Sana Akhtar, SP Raiganj Police District, will now function as Deputy Commissioner (West Zone) in the Asansol–Durgapur Police Commissionerate.
Dr. Sonawane Kuldip Suresh, previously with IB, has been posted as SP, Raiganj Police District, following the cancellation of his earlier DC-level posting.
Other Major District-Level Postings
Palash Chandra Dhali, SP Baruipur Police District, has been reassigned as SP, Paschim Medinipur.
Shubhendra Kumar, Additional SP (Rural), Purba Medinipur, has been posted as SP, Baruipur Police District.
Additional SP-Level and WBPS Transfers
Alongside the senior IPS reshuffle, the government has also issued postings for:
7 IPS officers in the Additional SP and SDPO categories, and
19 WBPS officers, spanning posts such as Additional SP, SDPO, Deputy SP, and Assistant/Deputy Commandants.
This restructuring impacts policing across several critical districts, commissionerates, and the intelligence apparatus.
Political Background: Adhikari’s Allegations Intensify Debate
The sweeping reshuffle coincides with Suvendu Adhikari’s strong allegations against the state police leadership. In his letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Adhikari alleged that:
certain IPS officers acted “as though they were TMC functionaries,” police machinery was being misused in areas like Purba Medinipur and Nandigram, and some officers were allegedly influenced by the political consultancy I-PAC.
The ruling Trinamool Congress dismissed the charges as “habitual and baseless,” accusing Adhikari of politicising routine governance.
State Government Calls the Move ‘Routine Administration’
Despite the political tensions surrounding the reshuffle, senior officials in the Home Department have clarified that the transfers are part of a routine administrative restructuring aimed at improving law-and-order management.
With the repositioning of 40 officers — many posted in sensitive and high-priority districts — this reshuffle stands out as one of the most consequential administrative changes undertaken by the state government in recent months.
