Sanjay Kundu (IPS:1989:HP) took over as the new Director-General of Police, Himachal Pradesh Saturday evening. Kundu succeeds Sita Ram Mardi, who retired on Sunday. Kundu was the frontrunner for the top job as the Union Public Service Commission had approved the names of three IPS officers; Somesh Goyal, Sanjay Kundu, and 1988-batch officer Tapan Deka.  Goyal, DGP (Prisons) was removed from the DGP post following public outrage on the inefficient handling of the rape of a minor girl from Kotkhai two years back. Whereas Deka, who has spent most part of his service in the Intelligence Bureau, though senior to Kundu, was not keen to return to the state.

Kundu worked as Joint Secretary in the Union Water Resources Ministry prior to becoming the Principal Secretary to CM and Resident Commissioner, Himachal Bhawan in Delhi. Earlier he served as Police Commissioner in the UN System where he carried out works relating to national capacity building, conflict mitigation, human rights, protection of civilians, and humanitarian support.