Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh resigns

Mumbai –  Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh has resigned from the Indian Police Service or IPS and is said to be prepping to contest the general elections due by May.

The 59-year-old top cop confirmed that he has sought retirement from the police. “So far my sphere of work was limited to Mumbai, now I want to serve the country,” he said.

Mr Singh would not say which party he will join, but sources said he is likely to contest the Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket. Senior BJP leaders from Maharashtra, however, say that they have no information about a ticket from Mumbai being offered to Mr Singh.

The 1980 batch IPS officer belongs to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh and there is speculation that he could contest from there. Media reports also said that he had an offer from the Aam Aadmi Party.

He told NDTV this morning, “I am close to every party, and close to none.” He added that he would like to remain in Maharashtra where he has “served for 30 years.”

Earlier he had told reporters, “I have not decided which party I should join. Once I decide, I will let you know.”

Mr Singh is the first serving Mumbai Police Commissioner to resign. He was due to retire in 2015.

Mr Singh is a post-graduate in chemistry and also has an MBA from Australia and a PhD in Public Administration.