Outgoing Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said that he was never handed a challenge that couldn’t be undertaken by the Delhi Police. He said the city police maintained law and order and internal security very well. “We maintained law and order. Internal security was very well managed and prevented things I cannot say on camera. The Delhi Police is one of the best,” Asthana, who served as the top cop for one year, said.
A 1984-batch Indian Police Service officer of Gujarat cadre, Rakesh Asthana was appointed as Delhi Police Commissioner on July 27, 2021. He was appointed as the top cop of the national capital four days before his superannuation. Before taking over as Delhi CP, he served as DG of BSF (Border Security Force). He has also served as Special Director in CBI. However, after a feud with then CBI Director Alok Verma, he was divested of his role.
When Asthana assumed charge as the Delhi CP, he said his focus would be on basic policing, crime prevention, and maintaining law and order besides attention on emergent areas. “A force of formidable reputation Delhi Police will work as a team to serve national capital,” he said.
The first big challenge for him came in form of protesting farmers, who had been sitting on borders and entered the city on August 15, Independence Day. He also handled Jahangirpuri violence on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti and the latest law and order situation in the heart of Delhi during the questioning of Gandhis by the ED.
the MHA appointed Tamil Nadu cadre IPS officer Sanjay Arora as Delhi Police Commissioner with effect from August 1, 2022.
