Bengal’s senior-most IPS Manoj Malviya has emerged as the front-runner to head the state police after much-delay from the Mamata Banerjee government in announcing the successor to the incumbent Director General of Police (DGP) Virendra.

According to sources in the state administrative headquarters, the 1986 batch officer is most likely to get the coveted post, despite chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s reservations about Malviya.

Earlier in June, the Mamata Banerjee government had suggested to three senior-most IPS officers of the state to opt for voluntary retirement to clear its own mess in appointing the next DGP and get a man of its choice at the top spot.

The offer was made to P Nirajnayan, Sumanbala Sahoo and Adhir Sharma, all three 1987 batch officers who were considered next in line to succeed the incumbent DGP and Mamata favourite, who is due to retire on August 31.

“All three turned down the government’s request leaving it with no other option but to send their names,” said a senior IPS officer.

The Bengal government clearly flouted the Supreme Court’s instructions to send names of contenders to the UPSC three months before the retirement of the incumbent. In this case, the Bengal government barely has weeks.

Once the names are sent to the UPSC, the commission prepares a panel based on merit and seniority on the condition that they have two years of service left. The state governments have to pick the candidates from this panel.

Sources said the Centre had asked the state government to submit a list of officers holding DGP rank and also those who were next in line.

“Accordingly, the state government had submitted the names of 21 officers from batches of 1986 to 1991,” said a source.

Mamata’s chief objection to Malviya, currently director general (organisation), is his family background that makes him close to the BJP.

A descendant of the late Hindutva ideologue Madan Mohan Malviya, the senior-most IPS officer in Bengal was tipped to be the DGP if the BJP had come to power in the Assembly elections held between March and April.

During his stint as additional commissioner in the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, between September 2005 and May 2010, the CBI had found Malviya had accumulated wealth disproportionate to his source of income and had allegedly sought favours from officials of private firms, that included international travel and five-star accommodation.

In July 2010, the Ministry of Home Affairs had ordered repatriation of Malviya to the home cadre.

Sources said a senior IPS officer, known for his proximity to the chief minister, had pushed the case of Malviya to hold the top post.

“Having an officer close to the BJP may help the state government in establishing an indirect channel on contentious issues,” said a senior official in the state home department.