Dinkar Gupta is a 1987-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) Punjab cadre officer known for conducting intelligence-based counter-terrorism operations in Punjab. He is the former Director General of Police (DGP), Government of Punjab. On June 23, 2022, he was appointed as the Director-General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), an anti-terrorism investigation agency established after the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.
Wiki/Biography
Dinkar Gupta was born on Thursday, March 12, 1964 in Chandigarh (age 58; as of 2022). His zodiac sign is Pisces. He holds a master’s degree in police administration.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′ 5″
Hair color: black
Eye color: brown
Dinka Gupta and Captain Amrinder Singh
family
Parents and siblings
Not much is known about his parents and siblings.
wife and children
Dinka Gupta married Vinny Mahajan in September 1989. Vinnie Mahajan is an Indian Administrative Service officer of Punjab cadre of 1987 batch. From 2022, Vinny is serving as Secretary of Jal Shakti Ministry. She is reportedly the first woman chief secretary of Punjab. The couple has two children, a son named Azeez Gupta and a daughter named Namya Mahajan. Azeez Gupta is the founder of Rocket Learning, a non-profit organization.
Dinka Gupta and his wife Vinnie Mahajan
Dinka Gupta with wife and children
other relatives
Dinka’s father-in-law BB Mahajan is an IAS officer in Punjab cadre.
Profession
Dinkar Gupta started his career as an IPS officer in 1987. He served as the Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur districts for seven years, from January 1992 to January 1999. He later served as Sub-Inspector of Police (DIG), Jalandhar and Ludhiana till 2004. At the same time, he also served as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Counter Intelligence Police, Punjab. As head of the counter-intelligence wing, Dinka was involved in the direct supervision of the Punjab intelligence wing, the State Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Organized Crime Control Unit (OCCU).
Dinka Gupta at press conference
He served as Central Representative in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for eight years (from June 2004 to July 2012), during which time he held many sensitive assignments. He also heads the dignitary protection department of the Ministry of Interior, responsible for protecting the safety of important figures. In 2012, Dinka was appointed as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) in charge of law, order and security. He served until 2015. He also served as ADGP Minister of Transport from 2013 to 2014 and ADGP Supply and Modernization Minister from 2014 to 2015. Subsequently, he served as Additional Superintendent of Police (ADGP), Administrative and Community Policing from 2015 to 2017.
Dinka Gupta at the award ceremony
In February 2019, Gupta was appointed as the Director General of Police, Punjab; he replaced a number of Punjab IPS officers as DGP. Dinka was personally selected by Captain Amrinder Singh. Dinka served during the height of the militancy in Punjab, leading technology-based operations and neutralizing more than 50 terrorists in Punjab; apparently he was the first to highlight the threat posed by cross-border drones. During his tenure as the Punjab Police Chief, many famous gangsters were eliminated.
Dinka Gupta appointed as Director General of Punjab
He held the post for about two years and seven months and was removed from the post in 2021 when Charanjit Singh Channi replaced Captain Amarinder Singh (retired) as the chief minister of Punjab. After being removed from the post of Deputy Inspector General of Police, he was appointed as Chairman, Punjab Police Housing Corporation, a less active post. Thereafter, Gupta sought permission to form a central delegation. He remained on the central deputation list for about a year before being appointed as director of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on June 23, 2022.
Dinka Gupta’s appointment letter
He was the first Director of National Intelligence Service from Punjab. Dinka succeeds CRPF Director General Kuldiep Singh, who had been in charge since the retirement of former NIA chief YC Modi on May 31, 2021. Singh also serves as Director of National Intelligence. The Cabinet Order Appointments Committee said Dinka will hold the position until March 31, 2024. The date of receipt of pension or until further order, whichever is earlier. The appointment letter issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) is as follows:
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for the appointment of Shri Dinkar Gupta, IPS (PB: 87) as Director, National Investigation Agency, in the post grade 17 up to 31.03. 2024, i.e. the date of receipt of pension or until further order, whichever occurs earlier. “
dispute
Criticized for remarks about Kartarpur Corridor
In February 2022, Dinka Gupta sparked controversy when she made derogatory remarks about the Kartarpur Corridor at an event organized by a national daily. He said,
Kartarpur offers the possibility that you send a guy in the morning as an ordinary lad and by the time he comes back in the evening he is actually a highly trained terrorist. You’re there for six hours, you can be taken to a shooting range, you can be taught how to make IEDs. “
His remarks triggered a backlash from the Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party, which demanded Dinka’s sacking. Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia, while speaking to the media, sought clarification from Gupta, saying:
If no clarification is provided, the party will suspend the parliamentary budget session on February 24. “
His remarks also angered Akal Takht chief pastor Sahib Jani Harpreet Singh, who said in a media talk,
If worshiping in our religious places makes us terrorists, then we are prepared to become terrorists. “
Later, while clarifying his remarks, Gupta said that his remarks were entirely about the safety and security of India and had absolutely no reference to any religion or community. He said,
I am only warning of the possibility of abuse by elements notorious for their hostility towards India and their (Pakistani) attempts to exploit every opportunity, even the most pious, to disturb peace and communal harmony. “
He further said that he was personally present when the first pilgrim crossed the Dera Baba Nanak border to visit Sri Kartarpur Sahib in November 2019. He said,
I am happy with the opening of the Srikartapur Sahib Corridor, which fulfills the decades-long wish of millions of devotees. I personally believe in Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his divine teachings. Their daily ardas (Sikh prayers) at the ‘khulle darshan-deedaar’, a religious shrine reserved in Pakistan after partition, was finally answered. What is even more gratifying is that it coincides with the 550th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. “
coronavirus controversy
In March 2020, it was speculated that Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta was under quarantine at his official residence and despite being in quarantine, he was moving around freely in the state. Dinka has faced public criticism for his actions. However, later, Ravin Tukral, media advisor to the then Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, issued a clarification. His statement read,
DGP Dinkar Gupta has never been in home quarantine, so there is no doubt that his quarantine will end today. On the morning of March 16, his daughter returned from abroad without any symptoms, but was still strictly quarantined at home in accordance with regulations. The 14-day period ended early yesterday morning and she still has no symptoms. To clarify, all home quarantine protocols were strictly followed during Mr. Gupta’s daughter’s quarantine. “
Awards and Honors
- In June 1992, the President of India awarded him the Police Medal for Gallantry in recognition of his extraordinary courage, conspicuous gallantry and devotion to the duties of the ASP during an encounter with terrorists in April 1992. He is one of the youngest police officers in India to be awarded the Gallantry Medal.
- In June 1994, he was awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry by the President of India for the second time for his distinguished services as SSP Hoshiarpur.
- He was also awarded the Police Medal for his services to the Punjab Police.
- On August 15, 2010, Gupta was awarded the Presidential Police Medal by the Prime Minister of India for his outstanding services.
income
As director of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Dinka Gupta’s salary is Rs. 2. 25,000 per month (until 2022).
Dinka Gupta’s appointment letter
Facts/Trivia
- Dinka Gupta and his wife Vinay Mahajan earned the nickname “power couple” during Captain Amrinder Singh’s tenure as chief minister of Punjab. During Vinny’s tenure as the state’s chief secretary, Dinka was appointed Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, the highest administrative and police post in the state.
- In 1996, Dinka represented India at the International Terrorism Seminar organized by Interpol (Interpol).
- In 1999, Dinka won the British Chevening Gurukul Scholarship from the British Council at the London School of Economics.
- From 2000 to 2001, Dinka was listed as a resident administrator at the School of International Service at American University in Washington, DC.
- In January 2001, American University invited Gupta to design and teach a course for graduate students called “Government Under Siege: Understanding Terrorism and Terrorists.”
- Dinka has also served as a visiting professor at George Washington University in Washington, DC, USA.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education