CHENNAI: Following orders of the Election Commission, Karan Singha has been posted as the Commissioner, Greater Chennai Police, and he took charge on Saturday.
He replaces S.George. Orders in this connection were issued by the Home Secretary Niranjan Mardi on Friday night.
Prior to his posting as city Commissioner, Karan Singha, was Additional Director-General of Police, Crime Branch CID.
After the announcement of by-election to RK Nagar, the DMK had submitted a representation to the EC seeking transfer of the Returning Officer for the by-election and the city police Commissioner, as the opposition parties alleged these officials could be biased.
Addressing mediapersons here soon after taking charge as the new city Commissioner, Karan Singha said crime prevention and traffic issues would be his main focus. He also said he would co-ordinate with the Returning Officer of RK Nagar constituency to ensure that security measures are beefed up and no untoward incidents are reported ahead of the by-poll.
Singha, a 1987-batch IPS officer, had earlier served as the Chennai suburban police commissioner. However, the post was later abolished and the suburban areas were merged with Greater Chennai Police. This is the second time George is being transferred by the EC. In April 2014, during the Lok Sabha Polls, he was transferred and replaced by J K Tripathy and was reappointed in May.
Later, the government transferred George in October 2015. He came back as city police chief in September 2016. He has been transferred again by the EC now.