Neelamani Raju to be Karnataka's first woman police chief, succeeds RK Dutta

Neelamani N Raju is a 1983 batch Karnataka cadre IPS officer

Bengaluru: Neelamani N Raju has been appointed Karnataka's first woman police chief after Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) RK Dutta retired on Tuesday. Raju is currently serving as the state intelligence head. 

Along with Neelamani Raju, CID chief HC Kishore Chandra and Anti-Corruption Bureau head MN Reddi were also in the running. Neelamani, a 1983 batch Karnataka cadre IPS officer, was the seniormost among the three.

Karnataka gets it's first ever woman police chief. Smt Neelmani Raju appointed as the DG&IGP .@IPS_Association — D Roopa IPS (@D_Roopa_IPS) October 31, 2017

However, the probability of Neelamani's appointment was highest due to her seniority to avoid any legal trouble.

RK Dutta, who served as the police chief for 10 months was given a farewell at KSRP grounds in Koramangala on Tuesday. Earlier there were reports that the government may give a three-month extension to Dutta. 

Farewell parade to DG&IGP Sri Rupak Kumar Dutta IPS retiring today after 37 years of glorious service .@IPS_Association pic.twitter.com/ORkybhBY9I — D Roopa IPS (@D_Roopa_IPS) October 31, 2017

A high powered selection committee headed by Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy had nominated the names of the three senior most IPS officers for appointment which was submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.