My IIT background has given me a different mindset: CP Gupta

Not "Reel" but the "Real" Amitabh in khaki uniform (Part-2)

Last updated Jan 22, 2022

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Policenama online – Commissioner of Police Amitabh Gupta is a dynamic and upright IPS officer. He has introduced several positive changes in the Pune police. He, along with his colleagues, have assured Puneites through their action that the police is there to help law-abiding citizens. At the same time, they can get tough with those who do not abide by it. He is an IIT, Kanpur graduate and joined the IPS in 1992. His earlier stints as the SP (Gadchiroli) and DCP (Mumbai) were noteworthy. Being an engineer, he is tech-savvy and keeps himself abreast with the latest trends in technology. After he joined the Pune police, he has focused on cybercrime and has used social media to curb crime and connect with common citizens also.

In a tete-e-tete with Chaitraly Deshmukh, CP Gupta speaks on various issues, including his personal and family life.

Q: The Maharashtra Police or the Mumbai police are often compared with the international police standards. Do you think such comparison is needed?

Yes, definitely. You see very few cases are investigated in foreign countries. Hardly, four percent cases are taken up. Here, if it is a cognisable offence, we catch hold of culprits. Even during the first wave of the pandemic, the police travelled to far-off places in the country to nab culprits. I can tell that the Indian police are much better than other police forces in the world. They may have fancy budgets. However, no other police force can match the Indian police in terms of gut feeling and sheer hard work.

Q: Sir, you have worked in your career of three decades with various sections of society. The police have to do multi-tasking. Besides law and order, crime and VIP bandobast, they have to take care of many other social issues involving women, children and issues during the pandemic. Should their work be segregated?

There have been attempts to segregate law & order and crime. They were not very successful. Traffic, cybercrime, economic offences have been segregated. However, law & order and crime are still mixed up at the police station-level. Specialised units such as ATS and Force One comprising commandos deal with terror attacks, investigation and prevention. Then you have the SRPF. Some specialised forces have been formed. So, you rightly said, if you want to have expertise, segregation and training will be required. Efforts are on in that direction. The police are doing their best with the given manpower.

Q: Sir, I would like to ask a few personal questions. You have been an IITian. You have a BTech degree. What prompted you to join the police department? Are you happy with your current profession?

Yes, I am happy. When I joined the police service. It was a trend. There were 56 engineers in my batch of 1992. Of those, 45 were IITians. The lure of power has attracted them to these positions. The intake in the civil services is 100-150. However, there are over 5,000 seats in the IITs across the country. It is a different competition here. I had passed out from the IIT. I had a scholarship. I was in two minds whether to pursue my further studies in the USA or not. That time, there were not many good opportunities in the private sector. Openings in the government were thought to be the best. They are still the best. However, there were no good openings in the private sector. Staying back in India, the civil services was one of the best options. I took it up.

Q: Sir, you are a family man. Your two children studied in the IITs. People that you work with or meet often are your extended family. However, when you are at home, how do you play your role as a father? Do you take studies of your children?

Women usually are not happy with their husbands when it comes to looking after their children. However, my wife is happy with my role as a father. My elder son did his BTech from IIT, Bombay. At present, he is in IIM, Kolkata. My younger daughter is a graduate from IIT, Kharagpur. She has been selected for IIM, Kolkata and London Business School also. God has been very kind to us. Yes, good kids and studies do not happen automatically. When my children were in Stds XI, XII, I took side postings. I could devote more time to my children and other family members. I claim to be a family man. I try to make my parents, kids and wife happy. Our children were with us during the pandemic. Otherwise, we did not see them since 2016. Both were studying at the IITs. But God has been kind.

Q: Is it a good husband or a good parent’s role that is important for you?

My wife claims that I am good parent. Beyond that I do not want to comment. My parents, children and wife have been staying together for the past 20 years.

Q: Young people are drawn towards crime. Why cannot be the khaki uniform more attractive for them?

Do not get lured by shortcuts. There may be momentary gains in shortcuts. However, your entire life cannot be a shortcut. Crime does not help in the long term.

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Q: You are an IITian. How has your degree helped you in your job?

I do not know how my BTech degree has helped. Yes, the IIT education gives you a different mindset. Rational thinking, tongue-in-cheek approach. I always remember my middle class humble background. I am on this side of the table. But my relatives, friends are on that side of the table. I always think of them. More than education, learning from life experiences is more important.

Q: You read a lot. You are an orator. Sir, we would like to know about your hobbies.

I do not get much time to read books. But I do sport activities. Previously, I used to take part in team sport. But now it becomes difficult to manage players. For example, if you play tennis, then you have to have three more men. Then there is a rotation on the tennis court. Then I shifted to individual games such as running, gym, trekking, swimming and yoga. You can do these activities on your own. Sometimes, we have team sport on Sunday with our own staff.

Q: You have been handling the recruitment scams. It was going on for many years. Many candidates were conned. Government officials were taking money in the name of recruitment. There must have been political pressure. The Defence was also involved in probing their recruitment scam. How did you handle all this?

People have more faith in the Pune police. Students, organisations and NGOs gave us clues. Our Cyber police, EOW and Crime Branch put in a lots of efforts. Both DCPs Bhagyashree Navtake and Srinivas Ghadge put their heart and soul into the investigation. All leads were taken to a logical conclusion. It is a never-ending story. As you go deep, it goes on expanding. We will go as far as possible with all scandals that we have unearthed.

Q: Sir, what plays a vital role? Is it rehabilitation or penalising the accused?

It depends on which type of case it is. If there are citizens, teenagers, youngsters, we try to counsel them. We do not want to damage their track record. Everyone goes through such phases in life. We never humiliate people during raids on hotels, where things like rave parties go on. We try and not arrest such people. This causes a scar on their mind. Their future is spoiled. They have to struggle with it throughout their lives. However, we are very clear about criminals. We put them behind bars.

Q: You have worked in various capacities in the police in various places. Your CV runs into several pages. We will have a separate interview on that part. Which another task would you like to undertake after the CP of Pune?

It is a difficult question. It is not in my hands. It is in the government’s hands. What they ask me to do, I would do it. Some unfinished agenda is there, like I was a part of the ATS. A train blast took place in 2006. But it is up to the government to see the suitability or the person, for which job he fits better.

Q: What effective measures do you take for your own manpower?

Keeping them happy is the first thing. Normally, the police hierarchy is such that you make their life miserable, then only they work. This is the standard practice that our sub-culture has. I have thought to put this approach upside down. Actually, my approach is to think out-of-box. I never displease my subordinates. I give them full freedom. I keep them happy. They do not want to make me unhappy. So, they deliver. They put their heart and soul into every investigation, every detail, every criminal as per my instructions.

Q: Would you like to give a message to our readers?

It has been a roller-coaster journey for the past 15 months in Pune. We have got lots of love and affection from citizens, leadership, my own people, my subordinates. Please continue to shower your love.

Web Title : Dr BK Upadhyaya promoted to the post held by Param Bir Singh