Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jan 6: If all goes well, senior IPS officer Neelamani N Raju might soon be appointed as the first woman director general and inspector general of police (DG and IGP) of Karnataka. Incumbent Om Prakash is all set to retire by January end.

A 1983-batch officer, Neelamani has served in central intelligence agencies. The officer was on central deputation for 23 years before returning to Karnataka in 2016. She is presently serving as DGP (internal security division).

Along with Neelamani, three others are in race for the top post - Rupak Kumar Dutta, serving as the special director in CBI, DGP H C Kishore Chandra and DGP M N Reddi. Chief minister Siddaramaiah is expected to take the final call once he recieves the four names from the home department.

There were rumours about the extension of Om Prakash's tenure by a few months. But sources in the home department have denied receiving any such proposal.

According to sources, Dutta might be appointed as the state police chief if the government goes by the seniority criteria. But, as Dutta will be retiring in October later this year, the government may consider Neelamani.