DGP was removed from poll duty in 2016 state and 2019 Lok Sabha polls

Rajeev Kumar, who has been replaced by Vivek Sahay as the new DGP, is known for his proximity with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Kumar, who was appointed as the state DGP last December, was moved to the Information and Technology department, a "non-election" related assignment, as an interim arrangement.

During the 2016 assembly polls, the EC had replaced Kumar when he was the Kolkata Commissioner of Police. However, he was later reinstated by Banerjee after her return to power for the second consecutive time.


Kumar came into limelight in February 2019 when the Centre and Trinamool were at loggerheads over the CBI's attempt to question Kumar in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam. Following a court order, Kumar was later questioned by the CBI in Shillong in connection with the probe. Later, during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the ECI replaced Kumar with Anuj Sharma. Kumar was shifted to CID as an ADG. Responding to Kumar's removal as DGP, CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty said, "Mamata Banerjee in the last three months used him to remove documents about Shahjahan Sheikh, herself and her nephew."