JK Tripathy likely to head Tamil Nadu police

Chennai: J K Tripathy, an IPS officer of blemishless career and acclaimed competence, is likely to be appointed as DGP (law and order) succeeding T K Rajendran retiring on Saturday. The formal announcement by the government would be made on Thursday, sources said.

The 1985-batch IPS officer hailing from Odisha has been chosen from a list of eligible IPS senior officers by the three-member committee of the Union Public Service Commission, in consultation with TN Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan and DGP Rajendran at Delhi. The final decision out of the three names sent to the state government by the UPSC was taken by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who it appeared also consulted some of his senior Cabinet colleagues.

Tripathy, who was twice the Commissioner of Chennai police, had also held many important posts and brought out positive changes leading to people-sensitive policing. Sources said T K Rajendran is likely to be appointed by the Government as its Security Adviser.