Dhanushyakodi Sivanandan

D. Sivanandhan was the Police Commissioner of Mumbai, promoted as part of the aftermath of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks.^[1] He is one of India's most well-known and highly regarded IPS (Indian Police Service) officers. His career spanned multiple high-profile postings over 35 years and he is known for his use of strategy & intelligence to uphold the rule of law.He served as an active member of the special task force in the National Security Council Secretariat, he helped in restructuring India's internal and external national security provisions.During his tenure he was involved in crushing a major part of the underworld and helped establishing training centers, schools, canteens, gymnasiums and officers’ club- all with state of the art infrastructure. He was also responsible for providing the youth of the city an online portal for better communication.

Professional Highlights:

• Retired as the Director General of Police, Maharashtra state in March, 2011.^[2]
• Deputy Director of the Intelligence Bureau from 1987-1991, he was tasked with protecting the nation against international criminal syndicates and terror groups.^[3]
• Joint Director of the CBI from 2001-2004 covering Gujarat, Goa & Maharashtra.
• 6 years in the Mumbai Crime Branch as Additional Commissioner of Police – Crime and Joint Commissioner of Police – Crime (1993-1995 and 1998-2001). His Use of strategy & intelligence to uphold the rule of law resulted in a sharp decline in organised crime in the city.
• During his years in the Mumbai Crime Branch he is credited with having broken the back of the underworld that was at its peak in Mumbai.
• Served for 6 years as Commissioner of Police for Nagpur, Thane and Mumbai. Appointed as the State Commissioner for Intelligence, he uncovered numerous international rackets protecting the state against foreign based anti-national elements.
• DIG for Nagpur range, focused on anti-Naxal operations from 1995-98.
• 3 years as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pune and Superintendent of Police, Satara and Sindudurgh.

Other Achievements:

• He helped build city's defenses post 26/11 by acquiring state of the art equipment
• Completely revamped the Thane Police School, creating an opportunity for more children to get access to excellent educational environment
• He was the brains behind the Thane Police Hospital, which was Inaugurated in 2007 with free access to OPD for Police officers
• He was also heavily involved in the creation many facilities for Police like Thane Police Training Centre, Police Officers Club, Police Canteen, Renovation of the C.P.'s Office
• To ensure Police fitness he introduced special executive checkup scheme for the entire Police force, which included facilities like Yoga, Gymnasium, OPD Facility, etc.
• During his tenure, he also introduced a website to connect with the city youth and give them a better platform to contact police.
• Recipient of the President's Distinguised Service Medal, 2000 as well as the Meritorious Service Medal, 1993 and the Internal Security Medal, 1998.^[4]

He was also a member of the special task force in the National Security Council Secretariat (Prime Minister's Office) for revamping India's internal and external national security measures.^[5]

Currently, he serves as the chairman of a security investigations and assessments company called Securus First India Pvt. Ltd. and also chairman of MIPL ltd. Very many safe city projects have been done successfully by MIPL ltd recently. Nanded, Aurangabad,Kolhapur are some of the safe cities done by MIPL ltd.^[6] He also serves as a Director on the board of RBL Bank ^[7]

He has also co-authored a National best seller titled "Chanakya"s seven secrets of leadership".^[8]

Incidents

Sivanandan was appointed Joint Commissioner (Crime) for Mumbai in the mid-1990s to tackle the growing gang wars in the city. During his tenure the city witnessed 238 "encounters" with gangsters.^[1]

He is of the 1976 intake.^[9]

References

Video: History Channel documentary on organized crime in India