In a surprise move, Uttar Pradesh police chief Mukul Goel was, on Wednesday, shunted out from his post for neglecting his duties and not taking interest in work.

Goel, who assumed the charge as the UP’s Director-General of Police (DGP) in June 2021, will now be posted as DG, Civil Defence.

Goel was removed from the top post for disregarding government duties and not taking enough interest in departmental work. ADG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar will take over the charge of DGP till the government appoints a new state police chief. DG Intelligence DS Chauhan is said to be the front runner for the top UP police post.

Sources said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was not happy with Goel as the DGP was not taking interest in taking action under UP Gangsters Act or in bulldozing the properties of mafia.

The sources also said that for the past few weeks, Goel, after being not satisfied with the government's style of functioning, especially on the law and order front, had stopped attending meetings of even the chief minister.

Besides, his posting as DGP was also made at the behest of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, according to sources. Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra, was unhappy with Goel, especially over the manner in which his son failed to get any relief in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, confirmed a senior officer.

Finally, unsatisfied with his functioning and conduct, the government not only shifted him but removed him with charges which also amounted to “misconduct” on part of a senior police officer.