The head of Prime Minister Modi’s security detail, Director of Special Protection Group (SPG), Arun Kumar Sinha, has passed away following a brief illness. He was 61 years old.
A 1987 batch Kerala cadre IPS officer, Sinha previously held the position of additional director general of police (special service and traffic) in the state before assuming leadership of the SPG. His appointment filled a vacancy that had persisted for nearly 15 months.
Sinha’s tenure was extended beyond his scheduled superannuation date of May 31 this year, with the approval of the Appointments Committee (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This extension, granted as a temporary upgradation, was sanctioned last year.
Established in 1985, the Special Protection Group (SPG) is an elite force with the exclusive responsibility of safeguarding the current and former Prime Ministers of India, along with their immediate family members. The SPG was formed in the aftermath of the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984.
