THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
With Goa entering the run-up to the next Legislative Assembly elections, the Centre has transferred Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjay Goel, triggering a key change in the State's election administration at a crucial stage of poll preparations.
The Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday ordered the immediate transfer of Goel, a 2004-batch IAS officer, to Arunachal Pradesh. The transfer comes as Goa begins preparations for the Assembly elections, with the CEO's office responsible for overseeing electoral rolls, coordinating with the Election Commission of India, and supervising the overall conduct of the electoral process.
Government sources said Goel had sought the transfer, although the reasons for his request were not immediately known.
The Ministry's order states that the transfer takes effect immediately and will remain in force until further orders.
The reshuffle also includes several IPS officers serving in Goa. Inspector General of Police Ajay Krishan Sharma (2008) and Deputy Inspector General of Police (Range) Varsha Sharma (2010) have been transferred from Goa to Delhi.
South Goa Superintendent of Police Tikam Singh Verma (2020) has been posted to Jammu & Kashmir, while IPS officer Arshi Aadil (2019) has also been transferred to the Union Territory.
Verma's transfer comes barely a month after the Goa government reposted him as Superintendent of Police, South Goa, with additional charge of SP, Kushavati district. Before the posting, he was serving as Principal of the Police Training School at Valpoi. Verma had earlier served as South Goa SP before being transferred in February 2026.
Following his transfer, Santosh Dessai took charge as South Goa SP. After Dessai's retirement, Verma was brought back to head the district police.
In exchange, Goa will receive two IPS officers: Gaurav Sikarwar (2019), who is currently serving in Jammu & Kashmir, and Shweta Singh Chauhan from the Delhi AGMUT cadre.
