Dr. M.A. Saleem appointed as State Director General of Police
Bengaluru : The Karnataka Government has appointed senior IPS officer Dr. M.A. Saleem as the new Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG-IGP) of the state.
The appointment comes soon after the Karnataka High Court dismissed a petition that had challenged the government’s move to appoint him as the state’s police chief. Following the court’s decision, the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms issued a notification on Saturday (Aug. 30), signed by Under Secretary K.V. Ashok, confirming Dr. Saleem’s posting as DG-IGP with immediate effect.
Dr. M.A. Salim, DGP, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Special Units and Economic Offences, has been appointed as the Director General of Police (Head of Police Force) with immediate effect. The salary is fixed at Rs. 2,25,000 per month as per the pay matrix of IPS (Pay) Rules, 2016, the notification read.
Dr. Saleem, a 1993-batch IPS officer, had been holding additional charge as DG-IGP since May 21, 2025, following the retirement of Alok Mohan. He now formally takes charge as the state’s top police officer.
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Gehlot changes profile pic to 'Save Aravalli', asks Centre to reconsider definition
Jaipur (PTI): Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Thursday urged the Centre to reconsider its definition of the Aravallis, warning that any damage to the mountain range posed a serious threat to the ecological future of north India.
Gehlot, a former Rajasthan chief minister, changed his social media profile picture in support of the nationwide 'SaveAravalli' campaign amid growing debate over mining and environmental safeguards in the Aravalli Range.
It was his symbolic protest against the new interpretation under which hills lower than 100 metres are no longer being recognised as part of the Aravalli system, he said.
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"The Aravalli cannot be judged by tape measures or height alone. It must be assessed by its ecological importance," Gehlot said, adding that the revised definition raised "a big question" over the future of north India.
Appealing to the Centre and the Supreme Court, Gehlot said the issue must be reconsidered in the interest of future generations and environmental security. He also urged citizens to participate in the campaign by changing their display pictures online to draw attention to the issue.
He said the Aravalli range functioned as a natural green wall against the expansion of the Thar desert and extreme heatwaves, protecting Delhi, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. Opening up smaller hills and so-called gap areas for mining would allow desertification to advance rapidly, he warned.
Gehlot also flagged concerns over air pollution, saying the hills and forests of the Aravallis acted as the "lungs" of the National Capital Region by checking dust storms and absorbing pollutants.
"When pollution levels are so alarming even with the Aravalli standing, one can imagine how disastrous the situation will be without it," he said.
Highlighting the water crisis, the former chief minister said the rocky terrain of the Aravallis played a crucial role in groundwater recharge by channelising rainwater underground.
"If the hills are destroyed, drinking water shortages will intensify, wildlife will disappear and the entire ecology will be pushed into danger," he said.
Gehlot argued that, from a scientific perspective, the Aravallis was a continuous chain and that even smaller hillocks were as vital as higher peaks.
