Deven Bharti : The Police Commissioner Who Knows Mumbai Inside Out

In Maharashtra, the most coveted post for a policeman is that of the Mumbai police commissioner, even though it is not the topmost in the hierarchy. The commissioner is usually either understated in style or flamboyant. Deven Bharti, who just took over the position, belongs in the latter category.

Bharti’s career is synonymous with Mumbai where he has spent most of his working life. That translates into a complete understanding of what makes up for law enforcement in India’s financial capital where he has headed the divisions of law and order, crime and even the anti-terrorist squad. An Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 1994 batch, Bharti has been associated some of the most important cases related to the city. The biggest one was when the 26/11 terror attacks happened. He was part of the team managing the situation in the Taj hotel where the terrorists were moving around killing guests.  When he reached there, a mobile of one of the attackers was found and a call came in from a handler in Pakistan. Bharti immediately spoke to them to get information, using the artifice that he was a waiter, and one of their men was injured. Being part of the Intelligence Bureau for a stint would have come in use then.

Bharti shares a longstanding and close relationship with the state’s chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. He paid a price for it when the opposition was in power and sidelined into an inconsequential post. But once the Mahayuti returned to power, first under Eknath Shinde as chief minister and then Fadnavis, Bharti was back at centre-stage. Two years ago, a post was created for him of Special Police Commissioner, which made him second to the police commissioner. And even when he has been appointed police commissioner now, the post was downgraded from the rank of Director General of Police, to Additional Director General of Police, just so that he could be fit in.  At 56 years of age, he has tenure until 2028 which gives him enough time to put his stamp on Mumbai’s law enforcement.

26/11 attacksDeven BhartiDevendra FadnavisEknath ShindeIPSMumbai PoliceNews Briefpolice commissionerWeb Exclusive