Bengaluru, May 21 (PTI) Senior IPS officer M A Saleem was on Wednesday appointed as the Director General and Inspector General of Police of Karnataka following the retirement of Alok Mohan.
According to officials, Mohan was set to retire on April 30. However, his term was extended till May 21.
"M A Saleem, IPS (KN: 1993) Director General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Special Units & Economic offences, Bengaluru is placed in concurrent charge of the post of Director General & Inspector General of Police (HoPF), Karnataka with effect from the afternoon of May 21 until further orders," an official notification stated.
A 1987 batch IPS officer Mohan, Director General & Inspector General of Police (HoPF), Karnataka, retired from service on the afternoon of May 21, it stated.
He has been serving as the DG&IGP since May 2023.
Speaking to reporters after assuming charge, Saleem said he was taking over as the police chief of the best-performing state.
He also complemented Mohan for his leadership and personal touch in improving the police system in the state in the last two years.
"He (Mohan) played a key role in converting the state's police force into a number one police force," he said.
Outgoing police chief Mohan said Karnataka police force is the best police force, and he can say with full satisfaction that he was the leader of the team, which consists of teammates who are excellent and outstanding.
He said, "I can say without any doubt that perhaps I'm the longest serving IPS officer presently in the country. With 38.5 years of service, there is no department in the police where I have not worked. Internationally, I have seen the police forces working. I can say with full conviction that the Karnataka police is not one of the best, it is the best police force."
Noting that Karnataka is one of the best states in administration in general, he said the political support which is there for the police is immense, and there was no moment in the last two years, when we were not independent in taking our decision in each and every count.
Mohan said Saleem is a highly experienced and a very balanced officer.
"I'm very sure that one of the outstanding officers of the state is going to occupy the chair I was occupying, and he will bring more laurels to the state police," he said.