Mumbai Police Gets A New Chief, Deven Bharti, The Man Who Fought Indian Mujahideen— Know More About Him

Deven Bharti, a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the 1994 batch, has officially been appointed as the new Commissioner of Police for Mumbai, according to a News 18 report. His appointment was confirmed through an official government order issued on Wednesday. Prior to this, he was serving as the Special Commissioner in the Mumbai Police.

Bharti's elevation to the top post follows the end of the tenure of Vivek Phansalkar, the outgoing police commissioner, whose nearly three-year term comes to a close. Phansalkar, a 1989-batch IPS officer, took charge on June 30, during a major political change in Maharashtra when Uddhav Thackeray stepped down as Chief Minister and the Mahayuti government came to power.

A Strong Track Record

As per the Indian Express report, Bharti is known for his long and distinguished service in the Mumbai Police. In April 2015, he was appointed as the city's Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) and went on to become the longest-serving officer in that position.

He has handled multiple high-profile investigations, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and the murder of investigative journalist J Dey. He is also credited with cracking down on the Indian Mujahideen, a terror outfit active in Maharashtra.

Earlier, he was promoted to the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) from his role as Joint Commissioner. Officials hinted earlier that if the commissioner post was downgraded to ADG rank, Bharti would be a strong contender-and that has now materialised.

The Selection Process

The decision to appoint Bharti comes amid much speculation. As Phansalkar's term neared its end, the names of senior officers were considered for the post. These included:

Sadanand Date (1990 batch), currently the chief of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), was seen as a top contender. However, central authorities were reluctant to relieve him due to sensitive ongoing probes, including the Pahalgam terror attack and the Tahawwur Rana case.

Sanjay Kumar Verma, also from the 1990 batch, and 1992-batch officers Retesh Kumar, Amitabh Gupta, and Sanjeev Singhal (ACB chief) were also reportedly in the race.

With the post being given to a 1994-batch officer, officials believe it might have been downgraded in rank to accommodate Bharti's appointment.

What Lies Ahead

With his vast experience and strong background in tackling terrorism and law-and-order challenges, Bharti's appointment is expected to bring continuity and firmness to Mumbai Police leadership. Given the turbulent period the department faced in the past, particularly after Param Bir Singh was removed in 2021 and Hemant Nagrale and Sanjay Pandey had short stints, the government likely sees Bharti as a stable and experienced choice for the role.

This appointment marks a new phase for Mumbai Police at a time when law enforcement faces complex and evolving challenges in the city.