Prashant Kumar has been named the acting Director General of Police for Uttar Pradesh, succeeding the outgoing acting DGP, Vijay Kumar, who is retiring today. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his congratulations to Kumar, recognizing his appointment. Kumar, a 1990 batch IPS officer, previously held the position of Director General, Law and Order in Uttar Pradesh, notably during the Ayodhya Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha.
Over the course of his career, Prashant Kumar has consistently demonstrated dedication and commitment to his duties, earning acclaim and awards from various organizations such as the CISF, ITBP, and UP Police. His notable achievements include being awarded the DG CISF DISC in 2011, as well as receiving Silver and Gold Disc commendations from DGs ITBP. The UP Police DGs have also honored him with several accolades, including Silver, Gold, and Platinum Disc awards. Among his prestigious recognitions are the CMOS Service Police Medal and the Kumbh Seva Medal. Additionally, he was honored with the 1st and 2nd Bars to PMG awards in 2021 and 2022.
However, the appointment of Prashant Kumar as the acting DGP has faced criticism from the Samajwadi Party. The party has raised concerns about the recurring practice of appointing acting DGPs in Uttar Pradesh, with Akhilesh Yadav expressing skepticism. In a post on X, Yadav questioned whether the repeated appointments of acting DGPs were a result of conflicts between Delhi and Lucknow or due to a perceived nexus between the government and criminals.