Senior IPS officer Abhinav Kumar likely to get ITBP posting

NEW DELHI: Senior IPS officer Abhinav Kumar, who had become a casualty of Narendra Modi government's directive of not appointing any official as private secretary of a minister who had served in the same capacity under UPA rule, is likely to get posted to paramilitary force ITBP.

Sources said the IPS officer, who still has three years of central deputation left, is likely to join ITBP as a DIG.

Kumar, who was PS to former minister Shashi Tharoor, was shortlisted by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju to serve in the same capacity.

He had even started work while awaiting formal orders. However, a government directive on June 19 forced his ouster.

"It has been decided by the competent authority that any officer/official/private person who has worked earlier in the staff of a minister in any capacity for any duration may not be appointed as personal staff of ministers in the present government," the government circular had said.

According to sources, Kumar, a 1996-batch officer, has already handed over responsibility to Vikas Anand, a 2002- batch IPS officer.

Tomorrow will be Kumar's last day in the Home Ministry and he will await formal orders for his further posting.