Exclusive: ITBP Surprise Triggers CAPF Chess Game
The additional charge of ITBP DG has upended what the power corridors expected: a smooth succession of Ritwik Rudra from the Intelligence Bureau to ITBP. That didn't happen, and the surprise may open the door to a wider CAPF reshuffle in the coming months.
Simple succession stalled
Top sources say the ITBP handover was complicated by the Centre's larger plan to place Rudra in a better position within the CAPF structure. Top sources said Rudra has made his plans clear: either a more respectable rehabilitation, or one last fight for the post of IB Director while serving under Dixit. Top sources add that time is on his side. He has considerable runway to become the next IB Director in 2028. Even if Dixit receives an extension into 2029, Rudra would still have a month to spare.
The CISF-BSF exit route
If Rudra gets a good exit before then, sources say it will be either CISF or BSF, with CISF the stronger possibility, where SSB DG Sanjay Singhal, who also served in ITBP, is likely to have his charge regularised within the next few months, and Special DG CRPF Vitul Kumar or CISF DG Praveer Ranjan could then be moved in as SSB DG, with Rudra ascending to the post of DG CISF. Top sources add that the CAPF reshuffle may gather pace when Secretary (Security) Rajiv Singh retires, bringing the 1993 batch into the spotlight, as the next SPG Director, Amit Singh, is from the 1994 batch, opening the possibility of one CAPF DG being shifted to Secretary (Security).
