Dinkar Gupta is a 1987 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Punjab cadre, known for his intelligence-based anti-terror operations in Punjab. He is the former Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Government. On 23 June 2022, he was appointed as the Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), a counter-terrorism investigative agency formed after the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.
Wiki/Biography
Dinkar Gupta was born on Thursday, 12 March 1964 (age 58 years; in 2022) in Chandigarh. His zodiac sign is Pisces. He holds a master’s degree in police administration.
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 5″
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Dinkar Gupta with Captain Amrinder Singh
Family
Parents & Siblings
Not much is known about his parents and siblings.
Wife & Children
Dinkar Gupta married Vini Mahajan in September 1989. Vini Mahajan is a 1987 batch Indian Administrative Service officer of Punjab cadre. Until 2022, Vini served as the Secretary of the Jal Shakti Ministry. Reportedly, she is the first woman chief secretary of Punjab state. The couple has two children, a son named Azeez Gupta and a daughter named Namya Mahajan. Azeez Gupta is the founder of Rocket Learning, a non-profit organization.
Dinkar Gupta with his wife, Vini Mahajan
Dinkar Gupta with his wife and children
Other relatives
Dinkar’s father-in-law, BB Mahajan, was an IAS officer of the Punjab cadre.
Career
Dinkar Gupta started his career as an IPS officer in 1987. He served as the District Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Hoshiarpur for seven years, from January 1992 to January 1999. He then served as the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) of Jalandhar area. and Ludhiana until 2004. Meanwhile, he also served as the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Counter-Intelligence, Punjab. Serving as DIG Counter-Intelligence, Dinkar was involved in the direct supervision of the Punjab State Intelligence Wing, the State Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), and the Organized Crime Control Unit (OCCU).
Dinkar Gupta during a press conference
He has served for eight years in the central deputation (from June 2004 to July 2012) with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) where he held many sensitive assignments. He has also headed the Honor Protection Division of MHA which looks after the security of VVIPs. In 2012, Dinkar was appointed as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Law and Order and Security. He held that position until 2015. He also served as ADGP Traffic from 2013 to 2014 and ADGP Preparation and Modernization from 2014 to 2015. After that, he served as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Administration and Community Policing from 2015 to 2017.
Dinkar Gupta during the award ceremony
In February 2019, Gupta was appointed as Director General of Punjab Police; he replaced several Punjab IPS officers to become DGP. Dinkar was handpicked by Captain Amrinder Singh. Serving in the state of Punjab during the height of militancy, Dinkar led technology-based operations and busted more than 50 terror modules in Punjab; apparently, he was the first to highlight the threat posed by drones from across the border. Many notorious gangsters were eliminated during his tenure as Punjab Police Chief.
Dinkar Gupta appointed as Director General of Punjab
He served in the post for about two years and seven months and was removed from the post in 2021 after Charanjit Singh Channi replaced Captain (ret.) Amarinder Singh as Punjab Chief Minister. After his removal as DGP, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Punjab Police Housing Corporation, a post which was not very active. After that, Gupta sought permission for the central representative. He remained on the offer list for the deputy center for about a year and was then appointed as the Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on 23 June 2022.
Dinkar Gupta’s appointment letter
He was the first officer from Punjab to head the NIA. Dinkar replaces CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh, who has held the additional charge of DG, NIA, since former NIA chief YC Modi retired on May 31, 2021. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet order read that Dinkar will hold the post till March 31, 2024, the date of his retirement, or until orders further, whichever is earlier. The appointment letter issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) reads,
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for the appointment of Shri Dinkar Gupta, IPS (PB: 87) as Director General, National Investigation Agency at Level-17 post and up to 31.03. 2024 which is his retirement date or until further orders whichever occurs earlier.”
Controversy
Criticized for his remarks on the Kartarpur Corridor
Dinkar Gupta courted controversy after making derogatory remarks about the Kartarpur Corridor in February 2022 at an event organized by a national daily. He said,
Kartarpur offers the potential that you send someone in the morning as a normal person and in the evening he returns as a trained terrorist in fact. You are there for six hours, you can be taken to the firing range, you can be taught how to make IEDs.”
He sparked a backlash against his statement by the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party, which demanded Dinkar’s sacking. Getting an explanation from Gupta during a media conversation, Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said,
If an explanation is not issued, the party will stop the proceedings of the Vidhan Sabha budget session on February 24.”
His comments also drew the ire of Akal Takht Sahib chief priest Giani Harpreet Singh, who during a media conversation said,
If prostrating in our religious places turns us into terrorists, we are ready to become one.”
Later, Gupta while giving an explanation for his statement said that his statement was related to safety and security of India and it in no way refers to any religion or community. He said,
I am only flagging the obvious potential for misuse by elements known for their hostility towards India and their (Pakistan’s) efforts to exploit every opportunity, even the most pious, to disturb the peace and harmony of society.”
He went on to say that he was personally present at the place when the first pilgrims crossed the border at Dera Baba Nanak, to visit Sri Kartarpur Sahib in November 2019. He said,
I am happy with the opening of Corridor Sahib Sri Kartarpur which has fulfilled the aspirations of millions of devotees for decades. I myself profess to believe in Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his divine teachings. Their daily ardas (Sikh prayers) for the ‘khulle darshan-deedaar’ of religious shrines that remained in post-Partition Pakistan, was finally answered. It is all the more exciting as it coincides with Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s 550th Prakash Purab.”
The Coronavirus Controversy
In March 2020, there were speculations that DGP Punjab Dinkar Gupta’s official residence was under quarantine and despite being under quarantine, he was moving freely in the state. Dinkar received public criticism for his actions. However, later Punjab Chief Minister’s media advisor Captain Amarinder Singh Raveen Thukral issued a clarification. His statement reads,
At no time was DGP Dinkar Gupta quarantined at home, so there was no question of his quarantine ending today. His daughter had returned from abroad on the morning of March 16. He does not have any symptoms but according to protocol remains in quarantine at home. The 14 day period ended yesterday early morning and he remains symptom free. It was clarified that all Home Quarantine protocols were strictly followed during Mr. Gupta’s daughter’s quarantine period.”
Awards & Honors
- In June 1992, the President of India presented him with the Police Gallantry Medal for his exceptional bravery, conspicuous gallantry, and devotion to duty as an ASP during an encounter with terrorists in April 1992. He is one of the youngest police officers to have received the gallantry medal.
- In June 1994, he was honored with the Police Gallantry Medal by the President of India for the second time for his distinguished service as SSP Hoshiarpur.
- He has also received the Police Medal for his Distinguished Service with the Punjab Police.
- On 15 August 2010, Gupta was awarded the President’s Police Medal by the Prime Minister of India for his distinguished service.
Salary/Income
As Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Dinkar Gupta received a salary of Rs. 2, 25,000 per month (till 2022).
Dinkar Gupta’s appointment letter
Facts/Trivia
- During Captain Amrinder Singh’s tenure as Chief Minister of Punjab, Dinkar Gupta, along with his wife Vini Mahajan, earned the nickname of ‘power couple.’ While Vini was serving as the state’s chief secretary, Dinkar was appointed as the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, the highest administrative and police post in the state.
- In 1996, Dinkar represented India at the Symposium on International Terrorism organized by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).
- In 1999, Dinkar was honored with a British Chevening Gurukul Scholarship by the British Council at the London School of Economics, London.
- In 2000-2001, Dinkar was listed as Executive-in-Residence at the School of International Service, American University, Washington DC, United States.
- In January 2001, American University invited Gupta to design and teach a course titled Governments under Siege: Understanding Terrorism and Terrorist to graduate students.
- Dinkar has also been a visiting professor at George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
