Hyderabad, April 25: The Telangana government on Friday, April 25, appointed senior IPS officer Shikha Goel as Principal Secretary, Home, in a sweeping reshuffle involving seven IPS officials across the state's security and administrative apparatus. The move signals a significant restructuring at the top of Telangana's law enforcement hierarchy ahead of key retirements at the end of this month.

Shikha Goel's New Role and Responsibilities

Shikha Goel, a 1994-batch IPS officer, was previously serving as Director General, Vigilance & Enforcement and ex officio Principal Secretary, General Administration Department. Her elevation to the Home Secretary's role is one of the most significant appointments in Telangana's police administration in recent years.

As per the official Government Order issued on Friday, Goel will continue to hold full additional charge of the posts of Director, Telangana Cyber Security Bureau and Director, Telangana Forensic Science Laboratory, until further orders. This dual responsibility underscores the state government's confidence in her administrative capabilities across multiple critical domains.

CV Anand Tipped as Next Director General of Police

Goel's transfer has ignited strong speculation that C.V. Anand, currently serving as Special Chief Secretary, Home, is being positioned to take over as the next Director General of Police (DGP) of Telangana. The position is set to fall vacant after incumbent DGP Shivdhar Reddy retires from service on April 30.

Anand, a 1996-batch IPS officer holding DG rank, brings a formidable track record to the table. He previously served as Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and has held the post of Hyderabad City Police Commissioner twice. He also served as Commissioner of Police, Cyberabad — one of the most operationally demanding jurisdictions in southern India.

His anticipated appointment would mark a natural progression within Telangana's IPS cadre and is seen as a continuity-driven decision by the state's Congress government under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.

Full List of IPS Transfers in the Reshuffle

Devendra Singh Chauhan, Additional Director General of Police, Personnel, has been posted as Director General, Vigilance & Enforcement and ex officio Principal Secretary, General Administration Department — effectively filling the vacancy left by Goel.

Shahnawaz Qasim, previously Director General, Drugs Control Administration, has been posted as Inspector General of Police, Multi-Zone-II. He has additionally been placed in full additional charge of the post of Inspector General of Police, Personnel.

Anti-Corruption Bureau Director Tarun Joshi has been appointed as the new Commissioner of Police, Future City, replacing G. Sudheer Babu, who is also superannuating on April 30.

Malkajgiri Police Commissioner Avinash Mohanty has been transferred and posted as Director General, Drugs Control Administration and Director, Prohibition & Excise. He has also been given full additional charge of the post of Director, Anti-Corruption Bureau, until further orders.

IGP, SIB, Intelligence, B. Sumathi has been posted as the new Malkajgiri Police Commissioner. Meanwhile, IGP, Intelligence, Karthikeya has been given full additional charge as IGP, SIB, Intelligence.

Why This Reshuffle Matters for Telangana's Law Enforcement

This reshuffle comes at a critical juncture for Telangana. With at least two senior officers — DGP Shivdhar Reddy and Commissioner G. Sudheer Babu — retiring on April 30, the government is proactively filling leadership gaps to ensure zero disruption in command structures. The simultaneous reshuffling of seven IPS officers reflects the scale of transition underway.

Notably, the appointment of Shikha Goel as Home Secretary is also being viewed through the lens of gender representation at the apex of Telangana's administrative machinery — a space historically dominated by male officers. Her continued charge over the Cyber Security Bureau is particularly significant given the rising tide of cybercrime cases across Hyderabad and its tech corridors.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau portfolio changing hands — from Tarun Joshi to Avinash Mohanty — also warrants attention, especially given the Telangana government's stated emphasis on anti-corruption measures since coming to power in late 2023. Observers will watch closely whether the ACB's operational intensity is maintained under new leadership.

What to Watch Next

All eyes are now on the formal announcement of the next Director General of Police, expected before April 30 when DGP Shivdhar Reddy demits office. If C.V. Anand is confirmed, it would represent a consolidation of experienced leadership at the very top of Telangana Police. Further orders on additional charge arrangements are also anticipated in the coming days as the new officers settle into their roles.