Dr Venkatesham K took the charge as the Commissioner of Police, Nagpur, on August 26, 2016 from Sharda Prasad Yadav, who’s now moved to Mumbai as the Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order), Maharashtra State Police. In an interaction with the media persons today at Police Gymkhana, Dr Venkatesham K sought suggestions from journalists pertaining to policing in Nagpur, and also promised to address the issues. Dr Venkatesham K is an IPS officer of 1988 batch, who has had a distinguished career. Nation Next lists down nine things that you would want to know about your new Commissioner of Police.

ONE: Born on May 10, 1962, Dr Venkatesham K hails from Hyderabad and is an IPS officer of (Maharashtra cadre) 1988 batch.

TWO: After taking charge from Sharda Prasad Yadav on August 26, 2016, Dr Venkatesham K has become the 32nd Police Commissioner of Nagpur.

THREE: After finishing his IPS training, Dr Venkatesham K started his career as ASP in naxal-affected Gondia in the early ’90s. During his stint in Gondia, he developed an extensive information network to deal with Naxalism. It was because of this, that the commander of one of the Naxal group could get arrested. Furthermore, to avoid the tribals from turning into Naxals, he did a lot of social work there, which included conducting medical and de-addiction camps.

FOUR: Dr Venkatesham K has served in communally sensitive places like Malegaon and Osmanabad in Maharashtra. During the riots in Malegaon in 2003, his performance was well appreciated.

FIVE: Dr Venkatesham K was appointed as the chief of the Special Task Force in January 2016 by Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis to probe the multi-crore scholarship scam in educational institutes in Maharashtra.

SIX: As the Deputy Commissioner of Police (in Mumbai), Dr Venkatesham K intensified the police’s operations against gangsters, which resulted in killings of gangsters from Dawood Ibrahim’s gang and also led to the arrest of underworld don Arun Gawli. He was also the Additional Commissioner of Police (Southern region, Mumbai) during the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.

SEVEN: Dr Venkatesham K received the President’s police medal for his distinguish service on Jan 26, 2013. He was then the CEO of the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana, Maharashtra.

EIGHT: Before taking up the charge as the Commissioner of Nagpur Police, Dr Venkatesham K was the Additional Director General (Training and Special Units), Mumbai. During his tenure, he was responsible for introducing e-learning and technological modernisation in the police training.

NINE: Dr Venkatesham K has worked at various positions in Mumbai over the years i.e. with the Mumbai Special Branch II as in-charge of the Foreigners Registration & Immigration at the international airport, as the Deputy Director of Intelligence Bureau, as the DIG (Law & Order) and as the IGP (Administration).