Senior IPS officer Abhay assumed charge as the Director of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) on Wednesday.
An officer of Odisha cadre belonging to 1986 batch of Indian Police Service, Mr. Abhay was posted as Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) prior to his appointment as Director of NPA.
A recipient of President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2010, the new director will head the institution for a combined tenure till his superannuation on June 30, 2021. The order of Mr. Abhay’s appointment was issued on July 4.
The post fell vacant after D.R. Doley Barman moved to her home cadre and took charge as Chairperson cum Managing Director of Jammu & Kashmir Police Housing Corporation. An IPS officer of Telangana cadre, Umesh Sharraf, who is currently Joint Director (Administration and Senior Course) of NPA on Central deputation, was made in-charge Director from April 1 till the new director assumed office on Wednesday.
Ms. Doley, who superannuated on May 31 this year, was the second woman IPS officer to head the academy, immediately after Aruna Bahuguna, a Telangana cadre IPS officer of 1979 batch, retired from service on attaining superannuation in February 2017.
Mr. Abhay served the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation on international deputation. During his seven years in the Central Bureau of Investigation, apart from heading the Anti-Corruption Branch of CBI in Odisha, he was the Deputy Inspector General for Bank Frauds and Security Cell in New Delhi.
The officer was also Director of CBI Academy and before that, was Additional Director General (Training) in CRPF.
Later on Wednesday, Mr. Abhay visited the NPA Hospital and interacted with doctors, staff and patients.