IPS officer Mohammad Mustafa asked the Punjab government on Friday to relieve him as the chief of the anti-drug Special Task Force as he is “senior” to newly appointed police chief Dinkar Gupta. The Director General of Police (STF) reports to the Punjab DGP.

Mr. Mustafa, a 1985-batch officer, said he has requested the CMO to give him the charge of the State Human Rights Commission.

The DG (STF), left out of the panel sent by the Union Public Service Commission, said he will approach the Supreme Court for being “ignored”, alleging that there was a conspiracy to keep his name out. “I will move the Supreme Court for my rights,” Mr. Mustafa said, asserting that he fulfilled all the parameters as per the top court guidelines.

“My name was not in the panel despite fulfilling all the parameters,” said Mr. Mustafa, whose wife Razia Sultana is a Minister in Amarinder Singh Cabinet.

In the UPSC meeting held in Delhi on February 4, the State was represented by Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh and DGP Suresh Arora. On Thursday, Mr. Gupta was appointed as the DGP. He succeeded Mr. Arora, who had been on an extension after his retirement on September 30 last year.

Mr. Gupta became the new DGP after superseding five officers — Samant Goel (who is on central deputation), Mr. Mustafa, DGP (Law & Order) Hardeep Dhillon, DGP (Internal Vigilance Cell) Jasminder Singh and DGP (PSPCL) S. Chattopadhayaya.