The Gujarat IPS Association has recently appointed Gyanender Singh Malik, the Commissioner of Police in Ahmedabad, as its new president. This decision comes six months after the previous president’s retirement left the position unfilled.
Following his election on Wednesday, Malik expressed his intention to enhance the association’s engagement with the public through social media, aiming to address policing issues and advocate for the interests of law enforcement personnel.
The association’s new leadership emerges amid scrutiny from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which has taken notice of media allegations regarding the unlawful detention and mistreatment of a journalist by the Rajkot Crime Branch. On April 8, the NHRC issued a notice to K L N Rao, the acting Director General of Police, requiring a response within two weeks.
An elected member of the Legislative Assembly raised concerns about the alleged complicity of an IPS officer in this incident. However, the journalist involved later retracted his complaint prior to any court proceedings.
One IPS officer at the meeting remarked to The Indian Express, “While the Central IPS Association has been vocal about issues concerning its members, the Gujarat IPS Association has remained silent for years. We believe it is essential to clarify the facts surrounding such incidents so that the public and media can accurately understand the situation.”
Another officer added, “This initiative aims to ensure that officers receive institutional support instead of facing challenges in isolation.”
Malik further stated, “In a broader sense, if our association has perspectives to share, we will utilize our social media platforms to communicate them. We also plan to address issues related to transfers, postings, and overall improvements in policing.” The association has also decided to create a presence on the social media platform X.
During the virtual meeting on Wednesday, Malik was elected president, filling the vacancy left by DGP Manoj Agrawal, who retired on September 30, 2025. Piyush Patel, ADGP and Director of the ACB, has been appointed as Vice President, with Nipuna M Torawane, Principal Secretary for Home, and IG NN Chaudhari, overseeing Intelligence-2, taking on the roles of Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.
Reports indicate that members discussed the allegations of custodial torture against a fellow officer linked to a journalist operating an online platform. In a statement released on April 10, the Gujarat IPS Association acknowledged that “frivolous and unfounded allegations” against IPS officers are frequently made by interested parties on various media channels, and it was resolved that the association would take appropriate actions in such cases.
The newly-formed Executive Committee includes IG Ashok Yadav, SP Lavina Sinha, SP Ravi Teja Vasamsetty, and ASP Ayush Jain, while existing members Gagandeep Gambhir, Virendra Yadav, Vishal Vaghela, Sunil Joshi, Karanraj Vaghela, Parthraj Gohil, Rajesh Gadhiya, Rajdeep Jhala, Om Prakash Jat, and Vishakha Dabral continue their roles.
Another key issue discussed was the need for representation before the upcoming 8th Pay Commission, leading to the decision to establish a sub-committee tasked with preparing a comprehensive proposal on this matter.
Brendan Dabhi contributes to The Indian Express, where he focuses on significant social, legal, and administrative issues in Gujarat, particularly in areas intersecting health, social justice, and disaster response.
