CRPF DG, security adviser on quarantine after contact with COVID-19 positive doctor

As a precautionary measure, Senior Security Advisor of the Ministry of Home Affairs K Vijay Kumar and CRPF DG AP Maheshwari have gone into self-quarantine after indirectly coming into contact with a CRPF chief medical officer (CMO) who has been tested positive for COVID-19.

The CMO, who was residing in the Officers’ Mess in New Delhi’s Saket, is currently admitted in an isolation ward at AIIMS, Jhajjar in Haryana. About 10 CRPF officers are in self-quarantine because of their proximity to the doctor, officials said.

The indirect contact has tested negative for COCID-19, but the DG is observing quarantine as per protocol, said said M Dinakaran, DIG and Chief Spokesperson, CRPF

Maheshwari is a 1984-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre.

He took over as the CRPF chief on January 15 and has earlier served in the Union home ministry as the special secretary (internal security) and DG of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD).

Besides CRPF DG Maheshwari, the other senior officers now in quarantine include the Additional Director General (Ops), Inspector General (Medical) and the Deputy Inspector General (Ops).

Maheshwari wrote to the home ministry recently for sanction of special funds worth Rs 10 crore so that the CRPF can take a lead role in combatting the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

(With inputs from agencies)