The Karnataka government implemented a wide-ranging personnel reshuffle on New Year’s Eve, transferring 80 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and 68 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers across the state. The transfers include a number of promotions to senior police ranks and several high-profile district and departmental reassignments.
Karnataka IPS IAS transfers
Among the senior police changes, Dr M.B. Boralingaiah, until now DIGP of the Southern Range, has been promoted and retained as Inspector General of Police (IGP). Superintendent of Police N. Vishnuvardhana, previously posted in Mysuru, has been elevated to DIGP and appointed Director of the Karnataka Police Academy (KPA), Mysuru.
The reshuffle moves several district commanders. Mallikarjun Baladandi, formerly SP of Mandya, has been transferred to Mysuru as Superintendent of Police. R.N. Bindu Mani, who was DCP (Law and Order) in Mysuru, will take charge as SP of Kodagu. K. Ramarajan, previously Kodagu SP, has been reassigned as SP of Belagavi.
Dr V.J. Shobharani, until recently SP of Ballari and with prior experience as Deputy SP in Mandya, has been transferred as SP of Mandya. Chamarajanagar’s SP Dr B.T. Kavitha has been posted as SP of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Bengaluru. In her place, M. Muthuraju, who served with the Bengaluru Metropolitan Task Force and has past experience as Additional SP in Chamarajanagar and as DCP (Law and Order) in Mysuru, has been appointed SP of Chamarajanagar.
Hassan SP M.S. Mohammed Sujeetha will now serve as DCP (South East Division) of Bengaluru City and is replaced by Shubhanwitha, formerly SP of CID. ASP Shalu of Holenarasipur Sub-Division has been promoted and posted as SP, CID, Bengaluru.
Promotions to DIGP include Dr K. Dharanidevi, SP of the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE), who has been posted to the State Intelligence Wing, and A.N. Prakash Gowda, SP of the Internal Security Division (ISD), who has been assigned to the Special Action Force (SAF).
The reshuffle also touches civil administration. Chamarajanagar Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Nag has been transferred to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services. Sriroopa, who held that animal husbandry post, has been moved to Chamarajanagar as Deputy Commissioner.
Kodagu’s Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja has been appointed Commissioner of Survey, Settlement and Land Records. S.J. Somashekar, the Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, has been brought in as the new Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu.
Mysuru City Corporation Commissioner Shaikh Tanveer Asif has been promoted and retained in his current role, while other civilian and police transfers aim to strengthen district-level leadership ahead of the year.
The state government has not publicly stated specific policy reasons for each posting, but officials said the changes are part of routine administrative management and efforts to align manpower with operational needs across districts and specialised units. The reassignments will take effect immediately, and affected officers are expected to assume charge in the coming days.
Key Takeaways:
- State government orders a large-scale reorganisation with 80 IAS and 68 IPS officers moved in Karnataka.
- Karnataka IPS IAS transfers include key promotions: Dr M.B. Boralingaiah elevated to IGP and N. Vishnuvardhana named Director of KPA.
- Several district and specialised postings changed, including transfers affecting Mysuru, Kodagu, Mandya and Bengaluru CID.
- Administrative leadership changes also affect Chamarajanagar and Kodagu deputy commissioners.
