Chennai, June 3: Senior IPS officer Mahesh Kumar Agarwal officially took over as the Director General of Police (DGP) for Tamil Nadu on Wednesday morning. He is the 34th officer to lead the state police force.
Agarwal assumed his duties at 10:45 AM at the DGP headquarters located on Kamarajar Salai in Chennai.
His appointment follows the recent Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. During the elections, senior IPS officer Sandeep Rai Rathore was appointed as the officer in charge of the Tamil Nadu police under the directives of the Election Commission of India. After the formation of a new government led by the DMK, the process for appointing a full-time DGP commenced.
The state government submitted a panel of names, including Rajiv Kumar, Sandeep Rai Rathore, and Mahesh Kumar Agarwal, to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The UPSC approved this panel in a meeting held in New Delhi, leading to Agarwal’s selection for the top position in the Tamil Nadu police.
Mahesh Kumar Agarwal, a 1994 batch IPS officer, boasts over three decades of experience in police service. He has held several significant positions within Tamil Nadu.
Born in Punjab, Agarwal studied law and is a qualified advocate. He is proficient in Tamil, English, Hindi, and Punjabi. Throughout his career, he has taken on numerous important responsibilities, focusing on modern policing and crime prevention.
He served as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Chennai for three years and has also held the positions of Traffic DCP in Chennai and Superintendent of Police (SP) in Tuticorin district.
Agarwal played a crucial role in expanding the CCTV surveillance network in Chennai, which is believed to have enhanced crime detection and public safety in the city. He also initiated the “Night Crime to Zero” campaign aimed at reducing nighttime offenses.
He has investigated and overseen several high-profile cases, including the notorious Salem train robbery. For his exemplary services, he has been awarded the Chief Minister‘s Excellence in Service Medal.
Agarwal’s appointment is seen as the beginning of a new chapter for the Tamil Nadu police. His extensive experience and emphasis on technology-driven policing are expected to further strengthen law and order and public safety in the state.
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