Govt prepares to appoint new Nepal Police IGP; Dr. Manoj KC emerges as strong and credible contender

KATHMANDU: Nepal Police Inspector General (IGP) Chandrakumer Khapung is set to retire in the next nine days, triggering an active internal and administrative race among senior officials for the top leadership position. With a non-party caretaker government appointed after the “Gen-Z reform protests,” the selection process this time is expected to be more merit-based, minimizing chances of financial or political influence in the appointment, according to officials familiar with the development.

Four Additional Inspectors General (AIGs) are in the IGP race — Dan Bahadur Karki, Rajan Adhikari, Dr. Manoj KC, and Siddhi Bikram Shah. Among them, Shah, who was promoted separately after the others, is considered less likely to secure the position due to seniority rankings and comparative leadership scorecards.

Currently, Karki leads the Kathmandu Valley Police Office, Adhikari heads the Human Resource Development Department, Dr. KC serves as the Chief of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), and Shah is at the Nepal Police Academy.

Dr. Manoj KC Gains Ground as Strongest Competitor

Although seniority lists place Karki first, Adhikari second, and KC third, sources across police and administrative networks say Dr. Manoj KC has rapidly emerged as the most professionally credible and ethically strong contender, particularly due to his leadership at CIB during high-profile national investigations.

KC’s work in the Bhutanese Refugee Scam investigation significantly strengthened his reputation. Initially, as SSP at the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, he initiated arrests of key operatives linked to the scam. The investigation later expanded under then Kathmandu Police Chief Dan Bahadur Karki, leading to the arrest of former Home Minister Balkrishna Khand, former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, and senior bureaucrats. The operation is widely regarded as one of Nepal Police’s most systematically executed corruption investigations in recent years.

Within police institutions, KC is noted for:

Strong investigation credibility

Consistency in chain-of-command discipline

Neutral working record across different governments

Reputation for not entertaining external pressure

Academic background in criminal justice and policing methodology

His combination of field expertise and institutional integrity has convinced a powerful and reform-oriented group within government and bureaucracy to back him as the most stable leadership option moving forward, sources said.

The Competitive Landscape

AIG Karki, despite being first in the seniority list, has drawn scrutiny over operational decisions during the Bhadra 24 Kathmandu protest policing, which has raised ethical and command questions in government evaluation.

AIG Adhikari was previously considered a leading contender when the UML-led government was in power; however, following political transitions, his influence appears to have weakened, though he continues lobbying through certain political and bureaucratic networks.

AIG Shah, promoted separately, remains the least competitive in terms of seniority and institutional assessments.

Decision Now in the Hands of Prime Minister and Home Ministry

Although all contenders have reportedly met Prime Minister Sushila Karki, insiders say she has shown no visible political preference or intervention in the process. With a stronger push for institutional professionalism, the appointment is expected to reflect integrity, leadership stability, investigative track record, and reform compatibility—criteria under which Dr. Manoj KC currently stands out most prominently.

The official announcement of the new IGP is expected soon, marking a decisive moment for the post-reform direction of Nepal Police leadership.