Rajasthan transfers 18 IPS officers in late-night police reshuffle
Synopsis
The Rajasthan government's late-night transfer of 18 IPS officers is more than routine administration — the Jodhpur Commissioner was replaced in under five months and the Balotra SP pulled from field duty after a high-profile refinery accident. The scale and timing of the order signal both urgency and accountability at the top of the state police hierarchy.
Key Takeaways
The Rajasthan government transferred 18 IPS officers in a late-night order on 15 July .
Jodhpur Police Commissioner Sharat Kaviraj was replaced after fewer than five months ; Anshuman Bhomia takes over.
Ajmer and Bharatpur Range IGs have been replaced; Dr Ravi and Dr Preeti Chandra assume the posts respectively.
Balotra SP Ramesh was removed from field duty following attention on the district during a refinery accident.
Two DG-rank officers — Anil Paliwal and Malini Agarwal — have been given new portfolios.
SPs of four districts — Balotra, Jodhpur Rural, Hanumangarh, and Pratapgarh — have been changed.
The Rajasthan government carried out a sweeping reshuffle of its police administration late on Tuesday night, 15 July, transferring 18 IPS officers across ranks — from Director General to Superintendent of Police level. The overnight order reshapes command structures in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Bharatpur, and several districts.
Key Command Changes
Sharat Kaviraj, who was appointed Jodhpur Police Commissioner on 23 February, has been transferred in under five months and will now serve as IG (Crime Branch). Senior IPS officer Anshuman Bhomia, currently IG (SSB), has been named the new Jodhpur Commissioner.
At the DG level, Anil Paliwal moves from DG (Training and Traffic) to DG and Commandant General, Home Guards, Jaipur. Senior IPS officer Malini Agarwal takes over as DG (Police Traffic), vacating the Home Guards post she previously held.
Range IGs Reshuffled
Ajmer Range IG Rajendra Singh has been transferred to IG (Vigilance), Jaipur. In his place, Dr Ravi — previously IG (Police Modernisation and Welfare) — will head the Ajmer Range.
Bharatpur Range IG Kailash Chand Bishnoi moves to IG (Police Modernisation and Welfare), Jaipur, while Dr Preeti Chandra, formerly IG (Law and Order), takes charge as the new Bharatpur Range IG.
District-Level SP Transfers
Four districts receive new Superintendents of Police. Notably, Balotra SP Ramesh — who drew attention during a refinery accident in the district — has been removed from field duty and posted as SP (Human Rights and Weaker Sections), Jaipur. Rajesh Kumar, currently DCP (Headquarters) at the Jaipur Police Commissionerate, will be the new SP of Balotra.
Jodhpur Rural SP P.D. Nitya moves to ACB SP, Jodhpur, with Pankaj Yadav — Commandant of the 1st RAC Battalion, Jodhpur — stepping in as the new Jodhpur Rural SP. Pratapgarh SP B. Aditya has been posted to Hanumangarh, while Hanumangarh SP Narendra Singh Meena moves to Commandant, 10th RAC Battalion, Bikaner. Vishal Jangid takes over as SP of Pratapgarh.
Other Notable Postings
Pradeep Mohan Sharma has been transferred from the Intelligence Training Academy, Jaipur to Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic and Administration) at the Jaipur Police Commissionerate. Ajay Singh Rathore moves from ASP (Kishangarh Circle) to Commandant, 7th Battalion RAC, Bharatpur. Anushtha Kalia has been transferred from ASP (Bikaner Sadar) and DCP (Headquarters) to the Jaipur Police Commissionerate.
What This Signals
Late-night transfer orders of this scale are typically used to pre-empt resistance or to signal urgency — a pattern seen across several state governments in recent years. The early exit of the Jodhpur Commissioner, replaced in fewer than five months, and the removal of the Balotra SP from field posting following the refinery incident suggest the reshuffle carries both administrative and accountability dimensions. How the new officers perform in operationally sensitive postings — particularly Jodhpur, Bharatpur, and Balotra — will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
And a change this swift either reflects performance concerns or a realignment of political trust. The Balotra SP's removal from field duty after the refinery accident also deserves scrutiny: it reads as accountability action, but whether it is genuine course-correction or optics management will depend on what follows. Rajasthan has a history of large police reshuffles ahead of administrative reviews; the question is whether these postings hold long enough for the new officers to make a measurable difference.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many IPS officers were transferred in Rajasthan on 15 July?
The Rajasthan government transferred 18 IPS officers in a late-night order on 15 July, spanning ranks from Director General to Superintendent of Police across multiple districts and ranges.
Why was the Jodhpur Police Commissioner transferred?
Sharat Kaviraj, appointed Jodhpur Police Commissioner on 23 February, was transferred after fewer than five months — an unusually short tenure. No official reason was stated; Anshuman Bhomia has been named his successor.
Why was the Balotra SP transferred?
Balotra SP Ramesh was transferred and removed from field duty. The district had come under the spotlight following a refinery accident, and his transfer is widely seen as connected to that incident, though no formal explanation was issued.
Who are the new Range IGs for Ajmer and Bharatpur?
Dr Ravi, formerly IG (Police Modernisation and Welfare), has been appointed Ajmer Range IG. Dr Preeti Chandra, previously IG (Law and Order), takes charge as Bharatpur Range IG.
What changes were made at the DG level?
Anil Paliwal has been moved to DG and Commandant General, Home Guards, Jaipur. Malini Agarwal has been appointed DG (Police Traffic), vacating the Home Guards post she previously held.
