Bengal Police reshuffle: 33 IPS officers transferred, Natarajan R Babu named intelligence chief
Synopsis
West Bengal's Adhikari government has overhauled its police leadership in one stroke — 33 IPS officers moved, a new intelligence chief installed, and a known anti-corruption officer placed at the Directorate of Economic Offences. The reshuffle signals a clear political intent to investigate the TMC era's financial record, while sidelining officers associated with the previous dispensation.
Key Takeaways
The Suvendu Adhikari government transferred 33 IPS officers in West Bengal on 14 July .
Natarajan Ramesh Babu , former Director General of Correctional Services, is the new state intelligence chief ( ADG, CID ).
Supratim Sarkar , previously removed as Kolkata Police Commissioner by the ECI , has been moved to the lesser post of ADG, Telecommunications .
Jayaraman , known for integrity, has been posted as Director, Directorate of Economic Offences to probe alleged TMC-era financial corruption.
Rathod Amitkumar Bharat is the new Bidhannagar Police Commissioner , replacing Tripurari Atharv .
Changes in Baruipur follow Chief Minister Adhikari's public criticism of police response to a minor's rape and murder case.
A sweeping reshuffle of the West Bengal police administration was carried out on Tuesday, 14 July, with the Suvendu Adhikari government transferring 33 IPS officers and installing a new state intelligence chief. The reshuffle notification was issued from the state secretariat, Nabanna, on Tuesday afternoon.
New Intelligence Chief and Key Transfers
Natarajan Ramesh Babu, who until now served as the Director General of Correctional Services, has been appointed as the new head of the Additional Director General (ADG), Criminal Investigation Department (CID) — effectively the state's intelligence chief. He replaces Supratim Sarkar, who has been moved to the comparatively lower-profile post of ADG, Telecommunications.
Notably, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had earlier removed Sarkar from the post of Kolkata Police Commissioner following the announcement of the 2026 Assembly elections in March, after which he was posted as ADG of CID. He was subsequently deputed as a police observer across five Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu.
Other Significant Postings
K. Jayaraman, widely regarded as an officer of integrity, has been transferred from ADG, North Bengal Region, to the post of Director, Directorate of Economic Offences. His posting is seen as significant given the mandate to investigate alleged financial irregularities during the previous All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) administration.
Vishal Garg has moved from ADG, Western Zone, to ADG, Intelligence Bureau (IB). Meanwhile, Praveen Kumar Tripathi, who served as Inspector General (IG) of the Special Task Force (STF), has been transferred to the Home Guard division as IG — a posting considered less operationally significant.
Bidhannagar and Baruipur Changes
Tripurari Atharv has been removed as Bidhannagar Police Commissioner and reassigned as ADG, Traffic and Road Safety. Rathod Amitkumar Bharat has been named the new Commissioner of Police of Bidhannagar.
In Baruipur Police District, Pinaki Dutta has been removed as Additional Superintendent of Police (Zonal), with Atish Biswas taking over the responsibility. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had previously questioned the police response to a recent rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur, raising concerns about delayed arrival at the crime scene.
Broader Context
This reshuffle is among the most extensive since the Adhikari government assumed office, and comes at a politically charged moment — with ongoing scrutiny of law enforcement conduct and the shadow of the 2026 Assembly election results still fresh. The strategic placement of officers known for financial crime investigation signals the new administration's intent to examine governance records of its predecessor. How quickly these new appointees act on their mandates will be closely watched.
Point of View
One that sets the stage for investigations that could prove politically explosive. The transfer of Supratim Sarkar — already once removed by the Election Commission — to a low-profile telecom role completes his effective marginalisation. What remains to be seen is whether the new appointees are given operational independence or become instruments of political score-settling, a distinction that will define the Adhikari government's credibility on rule-of-law issues.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the new intelligence chief of West Bengal Police?
Natarajan Ramesh Babu has been appointed as West Bengal's new state intelligence chief, heading the ADG, Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He previously served as the Director General of Correctional Services.
Why was Supratim Sarkar transferred?
Supratim Sarkar was moved from the post of ADG, CID — the state's intelligence chief — to the lower-profile post of ADG, Telecommunications. The Election Commission had earlier removed him as Kolkata Police Commissioner after the 2026 Assembly elections were announced; his latest transfer is part of the broader reshuffle by the Adhikari government.
Why was K. Jayaraman posted to the Directorate of Economic Offences?
K. Jayaraman, regarded as an officer of integrity, was posted as Director of the Directorate of Economic Offences to investigate alleged financial corruption during the Trinamool Congress administration. The posting is widely seen as a politically significant appointment.
What prompted the changes in Baruipur?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had publicly questioned the police response to the rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur, raising concerns about officers arriving late to the crime scene. Two Additional SPs in Baruipur have been removed as part of the reshuffle.
How significant is this reshuffle in West Bengal's recent history?
The transfer of 33 IPS officers in a single order is one of the most extensive police reshuffles since the Adhikari government took office. It follows the 2026 Assembly election results and comes amid heightened scrutiny of law enforcement conduct across the state.
