The Kerala government on Monday decided to appoint senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Ravada A. Chandrasekhar as the new police chief of the state. The order said, "IPS Ravada A Chandrasekhar, Special Director, Intelligence Bureau (on central deputation), is appointed as the Director General of Kerala Police cum State Police Chief." Earlier, in a special cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday, it was decided to appoint Chandrasekhar to the top post. He will replace Sheikh Darvesh Saheb, who is retiring today. According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office, the cabinet selected Chandrasekhar from the list of senior officers provided by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) panel. Chandrasekhar, a 1991 batch IPS officer, is currently on central deputation. He hails from Andhra Pradesh. (Rr)