Odisha DSP’s red hair draws criticism, Odisha Police asks him to maintain decorum

Odisha Police found itself facing an unusual controversy after a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was trolled on social media for allegedly sporting red-coloured hair, prompting senior officers to advise him to maintain decorum befitting a uniformed officer.

The incident was reported from Jagatsinghpur district , where a DSP-rank officer, Rashmi Ranjan Das , became the subject of online criticism after his photograph went viral. Several social media users described the hairstyle as “unprofessional” and questioned whether such an appearance suited a police officer, arguing that it diluted the authority and seriousness associated with the khaki uniform.

Reacting to the controversy, Inspector General of Police (Central Range) Satyajit Naik said he had instructed the Jagatsinghpur Superintendent of Police to advise the officer to maintain decency in appearance. “We have asked him to keep his hairstyle decent and in line with the decorum expected of a man in uniform,” Naik told PTI, while clarifying that no formal circular or written order has been issued on hair colour or hairstyles.

“From constables to senior officers, everyone must respect the uniform. Not everything can be governed by written orders; decency should come naturally,” the IGP added.

However, DSP Das rejected allegations that he had dyed his hair, claiming the image circulating online was morphed . He said the change in hair colour was due to a medical condition , which he did not wish to disclose, and added that the issue was not new. Das further alleged that notorious criminals , against whom he had taken action in the past, could be behind the circulation of the doctored photograph.

Meanwhile, senior police officials pointed out that there is no provision in the police manual that mandates a specific hair colour. They noted that women police personnel across the country, including Odisha, often colour their hair in shades such as coffee, ash, auburn, caramel or golden, while greying and naturally brown hair are common and unavoidable.

A woman police officer in Bhubaneswar said personal appearance choices did not affect professional conduct. “We should be judged by our work, not our hairstyles,” she remarked.

A retired IPS officer described the controversy as a non-issue , saying that while personnel must maintain the image of a disciplined force, unnecessary focus on appearance serves little purpose.