Man who stood up to Obama's convoy is new top cop

Mumbai: The man who stood up to US Secret Service Agents and refused to take orders from them when US President Barack Obama visited India in November 2010, will be serving as Director General of Police (DGP) of the state for the next three years.

No-nonsense officer Sanjeev Dayal, from 1977-batch IPS cadre, who has been known for his impeccable image, took over from predecessor K Subramanyam, who retired on Tuesday.

The officer, hailing from Delhi, was a former commissioner of police of Mumbai and is well known for his integrity and strictness. In his 35 years of service as an IPS officer, Dayal has held several key positions across the state, along with stints with the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Special Protection Group (SPG).

He was DGP of the Anti-Corruption Bureau before he took over as the state's top cop.

"Dayal is the right choice for the post, as he has lots of experience. As Dayal now has three-year tenure to serve, he can bring around big changes in the force," said a police officer.

Speaking about the task at hand, Dayal said, "I am thankful to the government for considering me for the post of DGP. I will try my best to improve the service delivery and the upholding of the law."

Dayal's experience and seniority were the reasons the government chose him for the post and other contenders included R P Khilnani, DG (civil defence), P N Dixit, managing director, Police Housing and Welfare Corporation, and Sridevi Goel, ADG (State Reserve Police Force).

Incidentally, all belong to the 1977 batch.

The Obama episode
Dayal's strictness was reflected even with the US president's convoy when Obama visited India in November 2010, while Dayal was the commissioner of police. Dayal had refused to allow US Secret Service agents to dictate terms to Mumbai police and held up Cadillac One, in which Obama and Michelle were seated. The convoy was allowed to proceed 11 minutes later, only after US snipers were evacuated from unauthorised vantage points along the route.